Lupita Nyong’o Responds to THE ODYSSEY Casting Backlash: “This Is a Mythological Story”
Lupita Nyong’o is shutting down the racist backlash surrounding her casting as Helen of Troy in The Odyssey, and she’s doing it with the kind of calm confidence that makes the outrage look silly.
The Oscar-winning actress stars in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming adaptation of the legendary Greek epic, taking on the role of Helen of Troy, the woman whose beauty famously ignited the Trojan War and inspired the phrase “the face that launched 1,000 ships.”
As expected, certain corners of the internet completely lost their minds over the casting. Conservative commentator Matt Walsh complained that “not one person on the planet actually thinks that Lupita Nyong’o is ‘the most beautiful woman in the world'”.
He also accused Nolan of being a “coward” for not casting a white actress instead. Elon Musk even jumped into the conversation, claiming Nolan cast Nyong’o because he “wants the awards.”
Nyong’o addressed the backlash in a recent interview with Elle, and she made it clear she isn’t interested in wasting energy arguing with people determined to be angry.
“This is a mythological story,” Nyong’o said. “I’m very supportive of Chris’ intention with it and with the version of this story that he is telling. Our cast is representative of the world. I’m not spending my time thinking of a defense. The criticism will exist whether I engage with it or not.”
It’s a smart response, especially considering Greek mythology has been reinterpreted through countless lenses for generations. Nolan clearly isn’t making a museum piece. He’s crafting his own version of The Odyssey, which is a fantasy-type story, and the cast reflects that larger creative vision.
Nyong’o also touched on the obsession some critics seem to have with defining Helen purely through physical beauty. For her, the role has a lot more depth than that.
“You can’t perform beauty,” she explained. “I want to know who a character is. What is beyond beauty? What is beyond looks? That’s the thing about doing such a well-known text, which has been studied and interpreted and derived from.
“The research could be endless. The good thing about working with a writer like Chris is that it’s on the page. The investigation starts with the pages you’re given. That’s what I based it on.”
That approach feels far more interesting than simply treating Helen as some untouchable fantasy figure. Nolan’s film is looking to dig into the humanity behind these mythological icons with his own artistic vision.
Unfortunately, Nyong’o isn’t the only cast member dealing with ugly reactions online. Rapper Travis Scott and actor Elliot Page, who are both part of the film’s ensemble in undisclosed roles, have also been targeted.
Nyong’o, however, sees the film’s diverse cast as part of what makes the project exciting. “It’s quite something to be a part of ‘The Odyssey,’ because it is so grand. It spans worlds. So that’s why the cast is what it is. We’re occupying the epic narrative of our time.”
That sounds like the kind of ambitious swing you’d expect from a Christopher Nolan mythological fantasy epic.