**Billionaire Elon Musk clashes with Hollywood over Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o’s role in Christopher Nolan’s $250 million film *The Odyssey***

Nairobi-raised actress Lupita Nyong’o has become the focus of a global debate after landing the role of Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey, a film produced with a $250 million budget.

• Lupita Nyong'o was cast as Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan’s $250 million adaptation of The Odyssey, sparking global debate.
• Her casting was criticized by some, including Elon Musk and Matt Walsh, who claimed historical inaccuracy and accused the film of 'anti-White' bias.
• Nyong'o defended her role, emphasizing the mythological nature of the story and the inclusive, global representation of the cast.
• The Odyssey is projected to be a major box office hit, needing $625 million to break even and potentially reaching $1.2 billion with its A-list ensemble.

Lupita Nyong’o, daughter of Kisumu Governor and Kenyan academic Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, has faced criticism from American conservatives and billionaire Elon Musk over her latest role as Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey.

The story, a cornerstone of ancient Greek literature, follows Helen, whose legendary beauty is said to have "launched a thousand ships" and sparked the Trojan War.

For Lupita, the role is more than just another Hollywood milestone. It marks a journey from Kenya to Hollywood and highlights the growing presence of African talent in some of the world’s most high-profile film productions.

Nyong’o’s Role and Industry Response

Speaking to Elle magazine, an international fashion and lifestyle publication, Nyong’o said, “I was so deeply honored to be entrusted with the role. I mean, she is iconic. What more can I say?”

Her casting, however, triggered intense debate online, with critics including the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, arguing that it was historically inaccurate to cast a Black actress as a figure traditionally depicted as white.

Musk tweeted that director Christopher Nolan had "grossly insulted the Greek people," comparing the casting to placing a white actor in the role of Shaka Zulu, the legendary Zulu leader.

He later accused Nolan of being "an anti-White racist" and claimed the filmmaker assembled a diverse cast for The Odyssey in pursuit of Academy Awards recognition.

Nyong’o responded by emphasizing the mythological nature of the story. "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."

She added, "I'm very supportive of Chris's 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 defence. The criticism will exist whether I engage with it or not."

The backlash also extended to conservative political commentator and Daily Wire host Matt Walsh, who wrote on X that critics would react differently if “a white woman” were cast as “the most beautiful woman in Africa” in a major Hollywood production.

Reflecting on the criticism, Nyong’o said, “I can’t spend my time thinking about all the people who still don’t love me. You’ll find the representatives who believe in you, and you’ll get on with it. I want to believe I’m built to last.”

A $250 million Hollywood gamble

Beyond the controversy, The Odyssey is shaping up to be one of Hollywood’s biggest theatrical releases of 2026, with analysts projecting it could join Christopher Nolan’s billion-dollar blockbusters alongside The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, while potentially surpassing the near-$1 billion performance of Oppenheimer.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film was produced with a $250 million budget.

Koimoi noted that, based on Hollywood’s commonly used 2.5x multiplier rule, The Odyssey would need to generate an estimated $625 million globally to break even after marketing and distribution costs.

Industry projections, however, suggest the film could perform well beyond that threshold.

With a cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, and Charlize Theron, The Odyssey is projected to generate between $800 million and more than $1.2 billion during its theatrical run, according to estimates cited by Koimoi.

For the Kenyan actress and Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress, blockbuster success is nothing new.

Her breakthrough film, 12 Years a Slave, generated more than $187 million globally and earned her an Oscar, making her the first Kenyan actress to receive the honour.

She has since appeared in major franchises including Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Black Panther.

The success of Black Panther, which generated approximately $1.347 billion globally, further positioned Nyong’o among African actors featured in some of Hollywood’s highest-grossing productions.