Rumours surrounding Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey have exploded across social media this week after speculation emerged that transgender actor Elliot Page could portray Achilles, one of the most iconic warriors of Greek mythology, in the highly anticipated film adaptation.
Although neither Nolan nor Universal Pictures has officially confirmed the role, the speculation spread rapidly after entertainment outlet IGN amplified online theories surrounding the cast following the release of the latest trailer.
The backlash was immediate. Across X, Reddit, Instagram, and other social media platforms, many users criticized the rumoured casting as deeply unfitting for a character traditionally associated with masculine physical dominance, martial heroism, and the archetypal image of the ancient Greek warrior.
Much of the criticism focused on Page’s physical appearance and stature, especially in comparison to previous actors who portrayed the role, most notably Brad Pitt in the 2004 film Troy. Online commentators frequently contrasted Pitt’s towering and heavily muscular interpretation with the current rumours surrounding Page.
‘Achilles is supposed to embody strength, heroism, and physical dominance—not modern Hollywood identity politics,’ one widely circulated conservative X account wrote, while another commentator mocked the alleged casting as ‘the final stage of woke mythology’. Similar posts accumulated millions of combined views within days.
The Odyssey casting:
— Xavier ®. (@xavrivera) May 6, 2026
—Helen of Troy is going to be African
—Achilles will be played by Elliot Page as a trans character.
Christopher Nolan has completely destroyed Homer’s masterpiece. pic.twitter.com/9Ud52iFdtF
The actor, who rose to international fame under the name Ellen Page through films such as Juno and Christopher Nolan’s Inception, publicly announced a gender transition in 2020 and has since identified as a transgender man. The actor later adopted the name Elliot Page and became one of Hollywood’s most prominent transgender public figures.
The controversy surrounding The Odyssey, however, extends far beyond the Achilles rumours. Nolan’s adaptation has already faced criticism over several casting and stylistic decisions.
One of the most discussed rumours concerns Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, who is speculated to portray Helen of Troy. Critics argued online that such a casting choice would represent another example of modern identity-driven reinterpretation of ancient European mythology.
At the same time, the film has also been mocked for its dialogue and accents following the release of the first trailer. Many viewers criticized the use of contemporary American speech patterns in an ancient Greek setting, with some social media users joking that the characters sounded ‘more like modern college students than Homeric heroes’.
Another controversy emerged from online fan communities speculating about possible queer reinterpretations of certain characters and relationships in the story, particularly involving Telemachus, portrayed by Tom Holland, and Antinous, played by Robert Pattinson.
The film is scheduled to be released in July 2026.
Watch the recent trailer below:
Related articles:
At a time when public debate is increasingly polarized and superficial, Hungarian Conservative remains committed to depth, intellectual honesty, and independent conservative thought.
Producing high-quality journalism requires resources. Your contribution helps us expand our coverage, reach new audiences, and keep our content accessible.
Please consider supporting our mission.
