Theodora Tongas

Greeks largely welcome Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey as another reinterpretation of a story that has remained alive through centuries of retelling. Teachers and scholars emphasize the epic’s value in education and its universal themes, while Greek performers and parents see stage and screen adaptations as ways to make mythology accessible to children. Although U.S. conservatives, including Elon Musk and Matt Walsh, have criticized the casting of Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy, the controversy has had limited resonance in Greece, where foreign actors have long portrayed Greek figures. The nationalist party Niki has also opposed the casting and approximately €6 million in Greek public subsidies, but Culture Minister Lina Mendoni defended the filmmakers’ artistic independence.