Nolan's "The Odyssey" promises to revive interest in the ancient world

While Christopher Nolan fans eagerly await the July 16 release of his version of "The Odyssey," a different kind of enthusiast is also buzzing with anticipation: academics and other devotees of the ancient world.

At universities and high schools around the world, classical studies professors have been preparing for what they hope will be an explosion in student interest in their field. Meanwhile, museums have been organizing "The Odyssey"-themed events, and academic-led book clubs focused on the classic Greek tale have reached capacity. Think of it as the "Barbenheimer" of the Department of Classical Studies.

"I knew it would be something big if Christopher Nolan was directing, and any time we can get people talking about what we're studying in class is exciting for me as an educator," said Jennie Luongo, a Latin teacher at St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Austin, Texas, who also serves as president of the American Classical League.

Based on Homer's ancient epic poem, the film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, whose 10-year journey home from fighting in the Trojan War is marked by numerous encounters with mythical beings.

Given Nolan's track record in creating culture-dominating blockbuster films - including "Oppenheimer" (2023), "Inception" (2010) and his "Batman" trilogy - Hollywood analysts are predicting massive box office grosses for "The Odyssey," with some speculating that the film is likely to surpass $1 billion in worldwide sales.

Professors of Classical Studies, whose work often focuses on the history and culture of the ancient Mediterranean basin, hope that many viewers who see the film will be inspired to buy a copy of the original poem or perhaps even sign up for a class.

"Clearly, it will have a huge impact and a huge audience," said Nina Papathanasopoulou, professor of classical studies at College Year in Athens and public engagement coordinator at the Society for Classical Studies. "It seems like it could be a really good way to rekindle interest in the ancient world."

Another sign that the film is already generating great repercussion, at least in the media? In addition to online debates over the casting, costumes and accents shown in the film's trailers, Emily Wilson - the classicist whose 2017 translation of "The Odyssey" Nolan claimed to have read - is receiving a huge wave of attention.

"With the release of the film, I'm inundated with questions from journalists," Wilson told CNN.

All this uproar is not unprecedented. After the release of Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" in 2000, the New York Times noted a surge in the publication of books about the ancient world, a phenomenon it dubbed "the Gladiator effect." The monumental success of that film, which grossed more than $460 million and won five Oscars, including Best Picture, also ushered in a wave of similar productions, such as "Alexander" (2004), "Troy" (2004) and "300" (2006), as well as TV series like HBO's "Roma" (2005-2007).

Russell Crowe in "Gladiator" (2000) - Disclosure/Universal
Academics also reported that the phenomenon increased the number of students taking classical courses. Now, efforts are underway around the world to ensure Nolan's latest film has the same impact.

In Los Angeles, for example, the Getty Museum team planned a full day of events in late May inspired by the film, including lectures, debates and a selection of performances from a folk opera adaptation of "The Odyssey." In Australia, an important bookstore organized a month of in-person and online lectures on the text's theme, which should culminate in the screening of Nolan's film in a Melbourne cinema. And in the UK, regional branches of the Classical Association have focused on Homer in their book clubs, with plans also being considered for a screening of the film for members.

"The film has already attracted new audiences to our charity work and events, and we are excited about further engagement," said Katrina Kelly, the association's director of engagement. "We look forward to seeing Nolan's version soon!"

Between January and May, UC Berkeley's Arts and Humanities team also took advantage of the upcoming release of Nolan's film to announce an "epic book club for the world's most epic story," which featured seven online gatherings. Organizers expected a small, intimate event, but were delighted when more than 1,300 people from around the world signed up to participate.

In February, UC Berkeley recruited Kim Shelton, one of its professors of ancient Greek and Roman studies, to provide nine minutes of commentary on the film's costumes and sets when the trailer was released. And in April, more than 55 students and staff held an on-campus "Homerathon" to read the entirety of The Odyssey over a 12-hour period.

"I hope there's an explosion of interest," Shelton said. "I'm teaching my Trojan War class this semester for exactly that reason."

Farther north, lovers of ancient literature are also preparing for a spike in interest. Robert Weir, president of the Classical Association of Canada, recalled that after the release of "Gladiator," the number of students taking introductory Greek and Roman civilization courses at the University of Windsor, where he is an associate professor, practically doubled to 250 to 300 students compared with just a few years earlier. With Nolan's new film coming out, "there could very well be an increase," Weir said.

But not everyone is so convinced. Weir's colleague in the university's Greek and Roman Studies program, Max Nelson, said that while there was "no doubt" that "Gladiator" had brought renewed interest in classical studies among students, Scott's 2024 sequel had not caused any resurgence that he could note. Still, he noted that "The Odyssey" has already been the subject of much debate online, signaling a strong passion among devotees of ancient culture.

"My prediction is that the film will not bring a large number of new students to our courses, but it will raise many questions among the curious," Nelson said. He plans to include Nolan's film in future editions of his course, "The Ancient World on Screen." "It will be a useful reference point for classroom discussions about various issues surrounding the interpretation and reception of ancient epic poetry," said Nelson.

Papathanasopoulou of the Society for Classical Studies said his organization is already planning to invite the public to a roundtable of experts to discuss the film when they meet at their next annual conference in Boston in January. She said many of her former students credit popular works inspired by the classics - including the Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief books and films, as well as the Hades video game franchise - with opening their minds to a field that, at first, can seem elitist.

Papathanasopoulou sees "The Odyssey" film as a similar opportunity. "I think a lot of us realize that if we want to keep our field alive, we have to really engage with contemporary voices, really engage with artists," said Papathanasopoulou.

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Source: CNN