Elon Musk has announced plans to produce his own AI-generated cinematic adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey—a project he framed as a direct response to Christopher Nolan’s upcoming live-action version starring Matt Damon as Odysseus. The Tesla and xAI founder shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), reposting a user-created video clip of an AI-rendered scene from the ancient epic, generated using Grok Imagine—the AI image and video tool developed by his company xAI.
A Full-Length AI Film by 2026
Musk stated that a full-length film will be completed before the end of 2026. In a post dated July 22, 2026, he wrote: “Before this year ends, Grok Imagine will make a full-length movie of The Odyssey that is historically accurate and true to the art of Homer.” He offered no further details about production timelines, cast, or creative team—but emphasized historical fidelity and literary authenticity.
Support for a Traditional Adaptation Too
In a separate post, Musk signaled openness to a parallel, traditionally produced version of the Odyssey. When a user suggested Mel Gibson helm a $100 million film featuring historically precise ships, armor, weapons, and a cast delivering dialogue verbatim from the original Greek text—in Homeric Greek—Musk simply replied: “Agreed.”
Clash with Nolan’s Vision
Musk’s announcement follows months of public criticism of Nolan’s casting choices—particularly Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy. In January, Musk claimed Nolan had “lost his integrity,” calling the casting decision offensive to Greeks and disrespectful to Homer. In May, when conservative commentator Matt Walsh suggested Nyong’o was cast to avoid accusations of racism, Musk responded with a single word: “True.”
Nolan’s Odyssey premiered globally just days before Musk’s announcement. The film earned $124.5 million domestically and $264.1 million worldwide—setting a new career box office record for Nolan—and received widespread critical acclaim and enthusiastic audience reception.
Musk argues that an AI-driven production could sidestep such cultural and historical controversies by adhering more closely to primary sources—both archaeological and textual—rather than prioritizing modern reinterpretation.