Christopher Nolan hits back at criticism over controversial casting for The Odyssey

Christopher Nolan has defended his decision to include controversial rap figure Travis Scott in his adaptation of The Odyssey, after the casting drew considerable backlash.Speaking to Time, the acclaimed filmmaker addressed the controversy directly, unpacking the creative choices behind the casting.Nolan revealed that he had opted to involve the Astroworld rapper as a nod to oral tradition – from which the tale of The Odyssey and rap as an art form first stemmed."I wanted to nod towards the idea that this story has been handed down as oral poetry, which is analogous to rap," the Inception filmmaker elaborated.The rapper's involvement in the project was first revealed back in January, when his character was shown in an exclusive TV spot."A war, a man, a trick – a trick to break the walls of Troy," Scott, depicting a bard, is heard shouting in the clip over shots of Odysseus' role in the Trojan War.Upon the release of the teaser, viewers quickly took to social media to give their two cents on his casting – and they certainly did not hold back.READ MORE: You've never seen this Aussie household name like this beforeREAD MORE: Footy star forced to hit back at troll amid cancer fightREAD MORE: Legendary '80s singer resuscitated after cardiac arrest"Nolan does not know what he's doing anymore or he really really really wants an Oscar for this 'film,'" one person tweeted following the news of Scott's role in the movie."If you thought the bomb in Oppenheimer was big – you ain't seen nothing yet," commented another. One person labelled the rapper's casting as "pretentious."Another viewer, however, pointed out that Nolan and Scott were already past collaborators, having previously worked together on a song for the director's 2020 sci-fi thriller Tenet.The filmmaker is widely renowned for the accuracy of his various adaptations – even revealing that he'd hired an expert team to ensure the adaptation was as close to the source material as possible.Based on the ancient Greek poem attributed to Homer, The Odyssey tells the mythological story surrounding the aftermath of the Trojan War. The film is said to be told through a non-linear structure, with Nolan explaining that the original poem starts halfway through the story.It is also expected to follow a dual narrative structure, flipping between Odysseus and his journey home and Telemachus and his battle to protect his father's throne back in Ithaca.FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.