The Wild Robot Star Lupita Nyong’o Reportedly Cast as Greek Goddess Athena in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Odyssey’
- Lupita Nyong'o reportedly to play Athena in Chris Nolan's The Odyssey.
- No details about The Odyssey has been shared by the filmmaker or the studios.
- The Odyssey is scheduled for release in 2026.
Actress Lupita Nyong’o is widely known for her work in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, in which she played Patsey. The actress was not only highly appreciated for her work but also became the sixth Black actress to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also starred in the Star Wars sequel trilogy from 2015 to 2019 and voiced the character of Raksha in The Jungle Book.
Nyong’o rose to prominence after she starred as Nakia in Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Black Panther opposite now-late actor Chadwick Boseman. She reprised her role for its sequel in 2022. The actress has expanded her graph by starring in horror movies, including Us, A Quiet Place: Day One, and recently voiced a role in The Wild Robot. Nyong’o is reportedly going to star in Christopher Nolan’s next, The Odyssey.
Lupita Nyong’o rumored to portray Athena in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey
Christopher Nolan’s highly talked about and anticipated movie The Odyssey is going to star Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Lupita Nyong’o, and others. Now according to an X user (@NolanAnalyst), the actress is all set to star as Goddess Athena in The Odyssey.
The Odyssey is going to be Nolan’s adapted version of Homer’s original work, which follows Odysseus’ 20-year journey home from Ithaca after the Trojan War. Athena is regarded as a primary deity present in the epic, and she is often described as ‘storm-eyed’ or ‘bright-eyed.’
Nyong’o’s character is a divine patron of Odysseus, projecting his affairs into the heavens and protecting him from the malicious influence of other deities. Via X, the studios wrote,
Christopher Nolan’s next film, ‘The Odyssey,’ is a mythic action shot actress in the world using brand new IMAX technology. The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX.
As soon as it was shared that Nyong’o was going to star as Goddess Athena in the live-action, a lot of her fans were excited to see the actress in a new avatar. A lot of people’s opinions sparked a controversy online in regards to historical accuracy vs. diversity in casting. Some argue that casting Black actors in white roles is just for bringing that extra fresh perspective along with providing opportunities for Black actors to showcase their talent.
Talking about Nyong’o casting as Athena, fans argued that the character is white and so the actress does not fit the criteria. However, some supporters have argued that myths are open to interpretation and creative liberties are allowed. Some critics pointed out that maybe casting a Black actor for the whole role can come off as disrespectful to the source material. Studios have not yet commented on the situation.
No plot details have been shared except one picture of Matt Damon from the sets, which has now increased his expectations. Max Blizz reported that Nolan had offered the role of Greek god to Robert Downey Jr., who had to decline because he’s back in the MCU. The Odyssey is expected to release in 2026.
Lupita Nyong’o stuns on the red carpet at the Oscars 2025
One of the most talented actresses in the industry, Lupita Nyong’o appeared on the red carpet of the Oscars 2025 in an ivory frock based on Chanel’s spring 1991 couture collection. Linda Evangelista originally modeled it. Nyong’o accessorized her look with jewelry from the French fashion house.
Eagle-eyed fans noticed that her ivory gown referenced her 2015 ceremony gown, where she wore a halter dress dripping in 600 pearls. In speaking to WWD about her long-time partnership with Chanel, she shared,
They were one of my first supporters. I remember wearing them as early as 2013, right, when my first film, 12 Years a Slave, came out. And over the years, they’ve often invited me to do things and treated me with wonderful hands, and when they approached me to be an ambassador.
The actress who voiced a character in The Wild Robot shared with IndieWire why working with Chris Sanders offered her the kind of passionate collaboration she had been seeking. She said, the filmmaker is like an eternal child, a magical one and he knows what he’s doing.
Nyong’o added Sanders has an humble approach and an open way to communicate, which resonated. She noted she wasn’t intimidated by him because he may look like he’s intimidating, but he’s very inviting. The actress mentioned that Chris Sanders is very interested in the best idea.
The Wild Robot is streaming on Peacock.
