Zendaya, known for her thematic "method dressing," drew inspiration from ancient Greece for the London photocall of her new film, "The Odyssey." The actress, 29, appeared at the IET Building in London on Sunday wearing a dramatic, backless draped gown and a coordinating headscarf. Her ensemble included 1st millennium BC ancient disk earrings fashioned into a contemporary design with 18k yellow gold and diamonds, as well as stacked diamond rings and an oval diamond ring, all by Barron London.
She was joined by co-stars Lupita Nyong'o and Anne Hathaway, who also made notable fashion statements. Nyong'o sported a plunging black and white outfit, while Hathaway opted for a white mini-dress paired with knee-high suede boots, a look described as channeling early 2000s fashion.
The film, directed by Christopher Nolan, is an adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic poem "The Odyssey." The story follows King Odysseus's arduous journey home after the Trojan War to reunite with his wife, Penelope.
The star-studded cast present at the photocall included Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Zendaya's husband Tom Holland, Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, Himesh Patel, director Christopher Nolan, and Emma Thomas. Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, and Anne Hathaway portrays Penelope.
This project represents Nolan's most expensive film to date with a $250 million budget and is the first to be shot entirely on IMAX 70mm cameras. However, the casting has generated discussion. Director Christopher Nolan has previously defended his casting choices, particularly that of Lupita Nyong'o as Clytemnestra, the sister of Helen of Troy. The casting faced criticism from Elon Musk, who deemed it "historically inaccurate." Nolan responded by stating that ancient depictions reflected the people of Homer's time, suggesting a case for portraying characters in that manner.
Musk's remarks were later addressed by "The View" host Sunny Hostin, who called him a "white supremacist" and a "racist" for his comments. Actor Alec Baldwin also publicly supported Nyong'o and Nolan, commenting on Instagram that Nyong'o "IS the most beautiful woman in the world."
Tom Holland, who plays Telemachus, Odysseus's son, was also in attendance. He was seen leaving the event carrying an England football shirt ahead of a pending match.