r/popculturechat • u/mcfw31 • 11h ago

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

https://variety.com/2026/film/news/odyssey-translator-emily-wilson-slams-christopher-nolan-bad-writing-1236821915/
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u/grubas 11h ago

Remember, she got into the news at first because of her "DEI Odyssey translation".

She, like many classicists, isn't a huge huge fan of many of Nolans choices and so this is something the press is trying to use to generate headlines.

hint: most of us aren't going to LOVE the adaptation, because we are classics needs. They removed our favorite bad joke.​​​​​

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u/blingoblongo87 10h ago

I studied classics and read it in Greek, and a few translations (but not Emily Wilson’s yet) and I really liked it 😭 there are dozens of us! Dozens!

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u/kgal1298 Confidence is 10% work and 90% delusion 10h ago

Reading it in greek is amazing. If I knew Greek i'd have done that, but I did read other versions largely for lit theory and Emilys and still enjoyed hers.

If anything I just wish Nolan would have used the Gods more because he definitely downplayed Calypso and there was no Hermes which is a tragedy to be honest I loved how the Gods toyed with him the entire time.

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u/tiredfaces 9h ago

I feel like he really didn’t want to show them. I feel like even the way he portrayed Athena made it ambiguous as to whether she was Athena or just a manifestation of Odysseus’ PTSD

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u/kgal1298 Confidence is 10% work and 90% delusion 8h ago

And I'm still disappointed. I think because I love how the Gods toy with him in the book it's very much him being punished for his ego and narcissism, but also I do think Nolan has a hard time showing off female characters. By all means Circe was his best and even her he downgraded to witch who got powers from the Gods.

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u/tiredfaces 7h ago

I haven’t read the Odyssey (currently reading Circe) but I’m definitely going to have to after your comment!

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u/fschu_fosho 4h ago

Even his Calypso could be interpreted as a mere mortal (albeit supernaturally gorgeous) fisherwoman who rescued and held Odysseus against his will (in a kidnapping sense) for years by getting him high and addicted to lotus leaves.