The upcoming release of Christopher Nolan’s epic film The Odyssey has been surrounded by a lot of talk. One of the biggest rumors claimed that actor Elliot Page would be playing the legendary Greek warrior Achilles. This news caused a significant online debate. However, recent reports suggest that this was just a rumor, and Page’s role in the film might be something completely different.
Page, who previously worked with Nolan on the film Inception, is part of a large and star-filled cast in this new movie. The movie, which is Nolan’s first since winning the Oscar for Oppenheimer, is set to be a major event when it is released. While the director has stayed quiet about many plot points, new information has cleared up some of the confusion about Page’s character.
The Rumor That Started It All
The rumor about Page playing Achilles began after viewers saw the actor in the film’s trailer. Fans started guessing that Page might be portraying the warrior during a scene in the Underworld. This quickly became a hot topic on social media.
Elliot Page has been the target of online harassment since coming out as a trans man in 2020. The rumor that he would play a character previously played by Brad Pitt in Troy led to strong reactions from some groups. Some right-wing commentators and influencers spoke out against the possible casting. The debate was even fueled by tech billionaire Elon Musk, who shared posts that attacked Page and other casting choices in the film. Musk described the idea of Page playing Achilles as “one of the dumbest and twisted things I’ve ever heard.”
What Role is Elliot Page Actually Playing?
Despite the loud online noise, the rumors about Page playing Achilles are likely false. Entertainment sources indicate that Page is not playing the famous warrior. Instead, the actor might be playing a different character from the ancient Greek poem.
- Sinon or Elpenor: Reports have suggested Page could be playing either Sinon, a Greek soldier connected to Odysseus, or Elpenor, a younger member of Odysseus’ crew. In Homer’s story, Elpenor dies during the journey and later meets Odysseus in the underworld. This matches the dark setting seen in the trailer where Page’s character appears, confirming he is likely in the Underworld and not in a battle scene.
- A Minor Role: If Page is playing Elpenor, it is a minor part. The character does not have any fight scenes and has a brief but memorable moment in the story. This is very different from the role of Achilles, which is a central and powerful figure in the Trojan War story.
- Page’s Own Comments: Page has talked about being excited to work with Nolan again, but he has never confirmed his role. He did share that being more comfortable with himself made this project more enjoyable than his earlier work on Inception.
Nolan Defends His Casting Choices
Director Christopher Nolan has responded to the backlash about his casting choices for The Odyssey. He defended his decisions in a Time magazine interview, saying they were based on artistic vision. He compared his process for creating the ancient world to his work on Interstellar, where he worked with scientists to imagine the future. He said the goal for The Odyssey was to create a world based on the best possible understanding of the ancient past.
Nolan also explained his choice to cast rapper Travis Scott in the film. He said he wanted to show respect for the oral storytelling tradition of Homer’s work, which is similar to rap music today. This shows Nolan is focused on being creative and thoughtful, not just on pleasing critics.
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Fans React to the Casting News
Fans have shared many different opinions about the film’s cast and the online arguments surrounding it.
- Support for Page: Many fans have rallied in support of Elliot Page, especially after they saw a recent picture of the actor showing off his fit physique. One fan commented on a boxing photo of Page, calling him “THATS MY ACHILLES.”
- Defending the Cast: The cast of the talk show The View spoke out to defend the casting of Page and Lupita Nyong’o. Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin criticized the racist and transphobic comments about the actors. Hostin pointed out that Greek mythology was influenced by North Africa and Egypt, so the idea that Helen of Troy couldn’t be played by a Black woman is historically incorrect.
- Criticism of the Critics: Some have also pointed out the confusion in the right-wing arguments. One news anchor mistakenly called Achilles a “historical figure” while attacking Page’s casting, completely missing that the character is from mythology and did not really exist. Others have noted that the anger over Page’s rumored casting as Achilles ignores the long history of queer interpretations of the character. Greek scholars like Madeline Miller, who wrote the novel The Song of Achilles, have said there is old evidence that Achilles and Patroclus were lovers, and the “straight” version of the character is actually a newer invention.
The debate over the movie shows the divide in the current culture, but the core facts remain the same. The rumor about Elliot Page playing Achilles in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is not true. His role is likely that of a minor character like Elpenor. The film itself is still one of the most anticipated releases of the year, and it will arrive in theaters with a cast that includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, and many more stars.
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