Musk sfida Nolan: “Entro l’anno la mia Odissea con l’IA, con Mel Gibson e fedele a Omero”

Elon Musk has declared war on Christopher Nolan, challenging the acclaimed director with a bold promise: within the year, he will produce his own version of The Odyssey, using artificial intelligence and starring Mel Gibson. The announcement comes after months of public criticism from Musk against Nolan’s epic film, which features stars such as Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, and Lupita Nyong’o. In a post on X, Musk claimed his AI platform, Grok, would create a historically accurate adaptation of Homer’s classic, set for release before the next awards season. Musk’s challenge was accompanied by a three-minute short film generated by one of his followers using Grok’s image generation capabilities. The clip featured a cast of white actors, aligning with Musk’s vision of a production that adheres strictly to historical accuracy. He also endorsed a proposal from another supporter offering $100 million to Mel Gibson to star in this new Odyssey, a project described as including meticulously accurate ships, armor, weapons, and dialogue directly taken from Homer’s original text, delivered in ancient Greek. Musk had previously criticized the casting choices in Nolan’s film, particularly the selection of Nyong’o for the role of Helen (and her sister Clytemnestra), whom he described as having “white arms.” He also took issue with the casting of Elliott Page, a transgender actor, who was given the role of Achilles in Nolan’s version. However, according to reports, Nolan had actually cast Page as Sinon, a Greek soldier introduced into the Odyssey narrative through Virgil’s Aeneid. Nolan, whose recent film Oppenheimer faced similar controversy over its portrayal of historical figures, has been labeled by Musk as a “racist anti-white” figure. Musk suggested that Nolan’s commitment to “woke” values would lead him to financial ruin, echoing the phrase “go woke, go broke,” implying that embracing progressive social issues could result in economic failure. Despite Musk’s claims, The Odyssey has performed strongly at the box office. It opened globally last weekend with earnings of $25 million and continues to draw audiences throughout the week, aided by its Imax format, A-list cast, and appeal among younger viewers. The film’s popularity extends beyond the screen, with increased interest in the literary work itself. Streaming platforms have noted that 91 audiobook versions of The Odyssey, available in 10 different languages, have been downloaded for a total listening time equivalent to more than 43 years of continuous playback. Among these listeners, 36 percent belong to Generation Z and 45 percent to Millennials, indicating a strong resonance with younger demographics. Musk’s proposed Odyssey faces considerable challenges, both creatively and technically. Producing a film entirely with AI raises questions about the feasibility of generating complex narratives, realistic performances, and authentic historical detail through current technology. Additionally, securing funding and assembling a team capable of executing such an ambitious project remains uncertain. Meanwhile, Nolan’s film continues to gain traction, with critics praising its visual spectacle and storytelling depth. Industry insiders suggest that the competition between Musk and Nolan highlights broader tensions between traditional filmmaking and emerging technologies. While some view Musk’s project as an innovative experiment, others question whether AI can truly replace human creativity in cinematic storytelling. As the year progresses, the outcome of this rivalry, and the success of both projects, will depend on how well each can meet their respective goals and capture audience imagination.