Billionaire technology entrepreneur Elon Musk has announced plans to use artificial intelligence to produce a full-length adaptation of The Odyssey before the end of 2026.
Musk said the film would be created with Grok Imagine, an AI image and video-generation tool developed by his company, xAI.
He described the proposed production as a “historically accurate” version of Homer’s ancient Greek epic.
“Before this year ends, Grok Imagine will make a full-length movie of The Odyssey that is historically accurate and true to the art of Homer,” Musk wrote on X.
The announcement came after the 55-year-old responded to a three-minute AI-generated clip shared by the account Heavy Pulp.
The video used dialogue from The Odyssey to create a scene involving characters from Homer’s story.
Musk did not provide details about the proposed film’s budget, cast, writers, distribution plans or the extent to which human filmmakers would participate.
His pledge followed months of criticism directed at Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster adaptation of The Odyssey.
Nolan’s film follows Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, as he struggles to return home after the Trojan War.
Matt Damon plays Odysseus, while Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson and Charlize Theron are among the film’s major stars.
The production earned more than $264 million globally during its opening weekend despite controversy surrounding some of its casting decisions.
Musk’s clash with Nolan over The Odyssey casting
Musk previously attacked Nolan over the decision to cast Black actress Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy.
Nyong’o also portrays Clytemnestra in the film.
In February, Musk declared that Nolan had “lost his integrity” while responding to an X user who argued that Nyong’o did not resemble traditional Western depictions of Helen.
The user claimed the casting decision made the story incoherent and insulted Homer’s original work.
Musk also endorsed comments from conservative commentator Matt Walsh, who accused Nolan of choosing Nyong’o because he feared being branded racist.
His criticism later extended to transgender actor Elliot Page.
Early speculation incorrectly suggested that Page would portray Achilles, the legendary Greek warrior.
Musk described the rumoured casting as one of the most foolish and twisted ideas he had encountered.
He also responded with a laughing emoji to an AI-generated image mocking Page in a warrior costume.
Page does not play Achilles in the completed film. The actor portrays Sinon, a Greek soldier associated with the Trojan Horse deception.
Musk continued his attacks in May, claiming Nolan made the controversial casting decisions because he wanted to win awards.
His remarks drew accusations of racism and transphobia from critics who defended the freedom of filmmakers to reinterpret ancient works for modern audiences.
Actor Colman Domingo later mocked Musk’s proposed AI production while appearing as a guest host on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Domingo joked that Musk’s definition of historical accuracy would make the film “whiter than Christmas at Cracker Barrel.”
He questioned how anyone could create a historically accurate version of a work containing gods, monsters, supernatural events and other mythological elements.
Domingo also suggested that Musk had more important projects to pursue and joked about the billionaire’s long-standing ambition to send humans to Mars.
Musk had not publicly responded to Domingo’s remarks at the time of the report.
Questions also remain over whether Grok Imagine can maintain consistent characters, voices, locations and story continuity throughout a feature-length film.
The tool has primarily been used to produce short video clips from written prompts and images.
Musk’s announcement has intensified the wider debate over artificial intelligence in filmmaking and its potential effect on actors, screenwriters, visual-effects artists and other creative professionals.
