'Had No Idea Ancient Greeks Used Batman Helmets' — Debut Trailer for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey Reignites Historical Accuracy Debate

Now the debut trailer for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is retired successful the wild, age-old debates astir “historical accuracy” person reemerged.

The Odyssey is officially described arsenic a “mythic enactment epic,” an adaptation of Homer’s foundational saga, 1 of the large epics of past Greek literature, starring Hollywood heavyweights specified arsenic Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron.

Ever since we got our archetypal look astatine Matt Damon arsenic Odysseus, the heroic king of Ithaca, Nolan’s movie has faced questions astir its humanities accuracy — oregon inaccuracy, arsenic immoderate person enactment it. With the debut trailer, below, we person our champion look yet astatine The Odyssey’s adaptation of Homer’s large work, and much points of contention.

GreekReporter was speedy to constituent retired assorted humanities inaccuracies — portion praising the movie for getting immoderate things close — successful not conscionable the armor but the ships we spot successful the trailer. The website picks done everything from the helmets the Greek soldiers deterioration to Agamemnon’s imposing, each achromatic suit. As 1 commenter joked: “Had nary thought Ancient Greeks utilized Batman helmets and sailed successful Viking ships. Seriously, however hard is it to look astatine the representation of what the existent happening looked like?”

(Christopher Nolan is of people the manager of the much-loved The Dark Knight Trilogy.)

Added another: “I'm not asking for them to marque it historically accurate, but it's benignant of jarring however it doesn't adjacent look vaguely similar thing acceptable successful past Greece. In fact, this looks much similar thing acceptable successful Scandinavia during the viking age. Why is everyone wearing pants? Why are they connected viking benignant long-ships alternatively than triremes? And wherefore is everyone wearing achromatic armor, similar they're Batman oregon something?”

But does humanities accuracy substance successful a “mythic enactment epic?” In the trailer, we spot what we judge to beryllium the Cyclops, a giant, one-eyed monster, participate a cave successful which Odysseus and his men are trapped. We spot the dormant emergence from the crushed to perchance onslaught Odysseus and his men. We’re expecting the movie to diagnostic the deadly Sirens, enchanting bird-women whose irresistible songs lure sailors to their deaths connected rocky shores. The Odyssey is simply a phantasy communicative with mythical creatures — it’s close determination successful the statement (“mythic enactment epic”). Some reason that successful this context, of people Nolan tin and should instrumentality immoderate originative liberties. This is not a documentary, aft all.

This statement has moved connected somewhat successful the hours since the trailer’s release, with immoderate complaining not astir the humanities accuracy of the armor we spot the soldiers wear, but however earthy the worldly looks. Agamemnon, played by Benny Safdie, is the absorption of these complaints, with immoderate saying his armor looks “flimsy” and “plastic.” One commenter said: “I deliberation the contented radical person isn’t truly astir humanities accuracy and much astir the costumes looking boring arsenic s**t.”

“Nothing says Ancient Greece, rather similar wearing achromatic and brown,” said another. “Kinda brainsick to deterioration those acheronian colors successful 1 of the sunniest places successful the world.” "It looks similar a clump of dudes cosplaying past Greece successful Wales," added 1 fan. “A small colour wouldn’t wounded you, Nolan,” said another.

The sermon astir The Odyssey volition nary uncertainty proceed up until its July 17, 2026 merchandise date. Each caller trailer and promotional changeable volition substance instrumentality excitement arsenic good arsenic the ongoing humanities accuracy debate. But possibly there’s a much pertinent question that is getting mislaid successful the aftermath of the debut trailer’s release: however connected world is Christopher Nolan going to acceptable the full communicative of The Odyssey successful conscionable 1 film?

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].