Director Christopher Nolan has responded to the growing criticism surrounding his upcoming adaptation of "The Odyssey," calling the pre-release discussions "irrelevant." His comments, made in a recent interview, have reignited backlash from those who have raised concerns about casting choices, the use of modern language in an ancient Greek setting, and historical accuracy.

Nolan told The Telegraph that conversations happening before audiences see the film are inherently meaningless because "no one having them knows what the film actually is yet." He compared the current situation to the backlash he faced before making "Batman Begins," noting that there were "a lot of freighted thoughts" about the character's representation at the time. He stated that his approach with "The Odyssey" mirrors his work on the "Batman" trilogy: to honor the original text by interpreting it in the strongest personal way possible.

"In the end, fans of the property — even when we were doing something that was not what they would have done — enjoyed the sincerity of the attempt to put as good a version of it on screen as we could," Nolan said, expressing hope for a similar reception for "The Odyssey." He added, "All I can do is make the best film I possibly can in the most sincere way. It’s very different from how anyone else would do it, but that’s what adaptation is."

However, many critics and social media users disagree with Nolan's assessment. Common points of contention include the casting of Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy, with critics arguing her complexion is inconsistent with the character's description in Homer's epic, and Elliot Page playing Sinon, a role some feel is ill-suited to his build. The trailer's use of modern language and the absence of Greek actors have also drawn negative responses.

Online reactions to Nolan's "irrelevant" comment have been swift. One user on X stated, "We don’t need to see the film. We know you bowed to the forces that say you must hire based on skin color or protected class to win awards. Hire based on merit, not DEI bulls---." Another remarked, "It is insane to think that some people think you'd have to experience a disaster to know it's a disaster or a disaster in the making." Others have defended Nolan, with one user suggesting, "While I don't agree with some of the casting decisions, it's a 3 hour piece of art that none of us have watched yet. watch the film and then form an opinion." This user also recalled the strong fan opposition to Heath Ledger's casting as the Joker in "The Dark Knight," a decision that was ultimately vindicated.

"The Odyssey," starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, Zendaya as Athena, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and Charlize Theron as Calypso, is scheduled to premiere in theaters on Friday, July 17.