Elon Musk says his artificial intelligence platform could soon produce its own feature-length adaptation of The Odyssey, positioning it as what he described as a historically faithful version of Homer’s epic following criticism of Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster interpretation.
The tech billionaire made the announcement Wednesday on X while responding to an AI-generated three-minute clip inspired by the ancient Greek poem.
Musk Promises AI-Generated Epic
“Before this year ends, Grok Imagine will make a full-length movie of The Odyssey that is historically accurate and true to the art of Homer,” Musk wrote.
The post immediately drew widespread attention online, with supporters praising the idea while critics questioned both the feasibility of the project and Musk’s description of the film as “historically accurate.”
Several users pointed out that The Odyssey is a work of mythology featuring fantastical elements such as the Cyclops, sirens and other supernatural creatures.
Others questioned why Musk would rely on artificial intelligence rather than finance a traditional live-action adaptation himself.
Nolan’s Film Draws Conservative Criticism
Musk’s comments come as Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has been heavily criticized by some conservative commentators over its casting choices.
Among the criticisms has been the casting of transgender actor Elliott Page and Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o in the role of Helen of Troy.
Musk has argued that Nolan altered Homer’s work to satisfy Hollywood’s diversity standards.
In previous posts, he accused the director of having “desecrated” the ancient poem and claimed the casting decisions were intended to improve the film’s chances during awards season.
The criticism follows broader debates over the Academy Awards’ diversity and inclusion eligibility standards, which require Best Picture contenders to meet certain representation benchmarks across casting, production and studio leadership.
Conservatives Divided
Not all conservative voices have agreed with the backlash.
Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro has praised Nolan’s adaptation despite criticism from others on the political right.
Fox News personalities Lara Trump and Griff Jenkins also spoke positively about the film during interviews promoting its release.
Nolan, meanwhile, has largely brushed aside the controversy.
“Comes with the territory,” the director told The Telegraph when asked about criticism surrounding the film’s historical accuracy, modern dialogue and casting.
“But look, these conversations that happen before people see the film—they’re always irrelevant, because no one having them knows what the film actually is yet.”
Strong Box Office Performance
Despite the online debate, The Odyssey has performed well with both audiences and at the box office.
The film opened to more than $250 million worldwide and earned an “A” CinemaScore from opening-weekend audiences.
Its domestic debut of more than $120 million marked the largest opening weekend for any live-action film released this year.
Musk Open to Live-Action Alternative
Although Musk promoted the possibility of an AI-generated adaptation, he also appeared receptive to backing a traditional version of Homer’s classic.
Responding Tuesday to an X user who suggested he give director Mel Gibson $100 million to create a version featuring “painstakingly historically accurate ships, armour, weapons, and casting,” with dialogue delivered in Homeric Greek, Musk replied simply:
“I’m down.”
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