Joanna Coles Explains Why MAGA Backlash Missed the Mark on The Odyssey

Joanna Coles appeared on the Obsessed podcast and described how Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” succeeded commercially, earning over $1.3 billion worldwide, yet faced a wave of MAGA-driven criticism before release. She noted that figures like Elon Musk attacked the decision to cast Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy, arguing it conflicted with their view of the character’s whiteness. Coles countered that Nyong’o’s portrayal, complete with facial scars, was a clever subversion that highlighted her outsider status.

She also pointed out that Tom Holland’s performance as Telemachus fell short of the emotional range shown by peers such as Timothée Chalamet, suggesting the film suffered from an overabundance of celebrity talent. The lack of cohesive chemistry among the cast, she argued, diluted the movie’s impact despite its financial triumph. Ultimately, Coles believes the right-wing backlash missed the deeper flaw: a star-filled lineup that prioritized broad appeal over narrative cohesion.