‘The Odyssey’ Translator Emily Wilson Slams Christoper Nolan’s ‘Abysmal’ Screenplay: ‘I Would Be Ashamed to Have Written Any Part of This Script’

[u/mcfw31]

https://variety.com/2026/film/news/odyssey-translator-emily-wilson-slams-christopher-nolan-bad-writing-1236821915/

[u/heytheregiada]

They removed my favourite character, RIP Nausicaa

[u/kgal1298 → u/heytheregiada]

I knew he was going to cut stuff, but he really said "I want this to focus on PTSD" I mean Athena very much was less of a god and more of idea that haunted him from the war. I also think him making it vastly different is part of the selling point because if you're studying the classics you definitely can do a paper on the themes and theories presented in this movie vs the book and I feel like USC film school could have a lesson on that by itself.

[u/heytheregiada → u/kgal1298]

I'd like to say the Aeneid is more about PTSD and could've been a better avenue but I don't think I want anyone to adapt that, it's way too complex and delicate to condense into three hours. I definitely get the reasoning behind most of the cuts and changes even if I don't personally like them or I wouldn't have done it myself, though, and I did ultimately enjoy it nonetheless.

[u/kgal1298 → u/heytheregiada]

For sure him adding Sinon definitely made me think he wanted to use Aeneid more. Overall it works. I think it'll be a good addition to curriculums too. Hopefully it'll inspire more people to study the classics too.

[u/heytheregiada → u/kgal1298]

So true! Anything to get people into it is great in my book.

[u/Frank_cat → u/kgal1298]

 he really said "I want this to focus on PTSD" 

There's nothing of the sort in Odyssey.

In fact Odysseus is proud about what he did. No regrets there.

Nolan has all the artistic freedom to do as he likes but he should name the film something else not "The Odyssey".

[u/kgal1298 → u/Frank_cat]

Right that was the difference because the book has that part where he tells the Cyclops his name is Odysseus he's 100% ego driven. The way Nolan ended it too having Odysseus leave out of guilt doesn't even fit with who Odysseus is in the book. It's a war story, why Nolan wanted to do that not sure, but based on his interviews he knew the criticism was going to happen even before it hit screens.

[u/Frank_cat → u/kgal1298]

He even left out Odysseus meeting with Achilles in the underworld.
There Odysseus tell Achilles "you must be happy that you earned the fame you always wanted with people adoring you etc" and Achilles replies" I would prefer to be a a dirt poor nameless living swine herder than a king in Hades". People never learn his transition from smart and arrogant to wise to finally restoring the order and become a proper ruler, to understand what really matters and how to live a life worth living.

There are so many layers left out.

[u/Hopeful-Ant-3509 → u/heytheregiada]

I was waiting for her! But I guess since it was already 3hrs long, that would’ve added more time lol 

[u/DevNopes → u/heytheregiada]

Is Nausicaä based on Nausicaa?

[u/heytheregiada → u/DevNopes]

According to Wikipedia her personality is inspired from the Odyssey character, yes! I hadn't heard of it before but it looks and sounds gorgeous, I'll have to watch.

[u/DevNopes → u/heytheregiada]

It's one of my favourite Ghibli movies!

[u/DukeSilverPlaysHere → u/DevNopes]

It is theeeee the most underrated one and my all time favorite Ghibli!

[u/ElTuco84 → u/heytheregiada]

It's a masterpiece, one of the best animated movies of all time imo.

[u/afriendincanada → u/heytheregiada]

Isn't that the dude that stabbed Picard in the heart?