The Odyssey: Expert Asks if Matt Damon Will ‘Kill a Kid’ in Christopher Nolan Movie

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A professor from Harvard University has inquired about how filmmaker Christopher Nolan might depict Matt Damon as the character Odysseus in his upcoming movie adaptation of Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey.” Set to be released in theaters July 2026, this highly anticipated work by Nolan also stars Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Jon Bernthal, and several others.

Gregory Nagy questions Matt Damon’s Odysseus’ role in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey

Gregory Nagy, a Harvard professor specializing in Classical Greek and Comparative Literature, has expressed curiosity about the depiction of Odysseus in the forthcoming film directed by Oppenheimer.

During an interview with ScreenRant, Nagy stated that Odysseus, portrayed by Matt Damon in The Odyssey, has engaged in some morally ambiguous actions throughout his life. One such action Nagy discussed was Odysseus killing a child, leading him to question how this would be addressed in the film, “Will Matt Damon end up killing a child?

The scholar from Harvard went on to recount the story of Odysseus, detailing his deceitful actions. According to him, Odysseus portrayed himself as a valiant hero of the Trojan War, but in truth, he was cunning. Upon being found on the shore, Odysseus came across a blind bard and requested that he sing about the saga of Troy.

Nagy recounted the story, explaining, “Therefore, let me summarize for you. Based on our plot details, when Troy was eventually conquered, it was Odysseus who cruelly seized Hector and Andromache’s child, the kindest characters in the Iliad. He then ascended to the tallest point in Troy and callously hurled the infant to his demise.

In simpler terms, the professor explained that when Odysseus listened to the blind bard narrating about his wrongdoing, he broke down crying. Nagy added, “As Odysseus listened to this tale, he couldn’t hold back his tears. He wept profusely, just as a woman taken captive might weep when she loses her child and husband in war. The story within a story seems to evoke the same emotion of grief in its audience as that experienced by a victim of a war crime. How on earth are they going to portray this emotionally intense scene in a movie?

As per Gregory Nagy’s observations, the intricate character of Odysseus presents a conundrum for filmmaker Christopher Nolan. With such a wealth of source material available, it remains uncertain if he will manage to faithfully portray the epic poem in its entirety, leaving fans eagerly speculating.

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2025-06-27 17:40