Director Christopher Nolan confirms Lupita Nyong'o starring as Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra in The Odyssey

Director Christopher Nolan has confirmed that actress Lupita Nyong’o will be starring in two roles in his upcoming film adaptation of Homer’s Greek epic The Odyssey, playing both Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra.

Nolan confirmed the casting in a Time profile on the director. Nyong’o will play Helen of Troy, the most beautiful woman in the world upon whom the start of the Trojan war is blamed. Helen is married to Greek king Menelaus, played by Jon Bernthal. Nyong’o will also play Helen’s sister, Clytemnestra, who is married to Menelaus’ brother Agamemnon, played by Benny Safdie. 

The film, which will open in theaters on July 17, features Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, wife of Odysseus, Tom Holland as Odysseus’ son Telemachus, Robert Pattinson as Penelope’s suitor Antinous, and rapper Travis Scott as a bard. 

The casting choice of Nyong’o for the roles was criticized by many. Commentator Matt Walsh wrote, "Not one person on the planet actually thinks that Lupita Nyong’o is 'the most beautiful woman in the world.' But Christopher Nolan knows that he would be called racist if he gave 'the most beautiful woman' role to a white woman. Nolan is technically talented but a coward. Too afraid to do anything that even slightly challenges the spirit of the age."

"I have absolutely no interest in watching Nolan’s 'The Odyssey'. It’s clear that the woke mind virus/DEI has infected the entire project," another user wrote. 

"Christopher Nolan is going to ruin his legacy with The Odyssey by bending the knee to woke Hollywood. It just keeps getting worse."