Christopher Nolan has made a fun comparison that puts his version of Odysseus, in his upcoming film The Odyssey, into perspective for movie geeks, explaining how the character played by Matt Damon, is more Han Solo than Luke Skywalker.
When speaking with The New York Times about the thematic connections between Oppenheimer and The Odyssey, Nolan explained why the character continues to fascinate him.
“When I finished the film I was quite struck by that. Every film I do, I like to leave it with questions or unanswered themes that I might carry through to the next film.
“There’s a lot of ideas of leadership, of mixed motivations, the flaws of people, that idea of where the best of intentions can go horribly wrong.
“Odysseus is a very complex character – a trickster, somebody who’s smart and wily. In Star Wars terms, it’s Han Solo – but Han Solo is not the hero of Star Wars, it’s Luke Skywalker.”
It’s an interesting comparison because it immediately paints a picture of the kind of character Nolan is bringing to the screen. Odysseus has always been defined by his cleverness as much as his courage.
He survives through quick thinking, manipulation, and strategy just as often as he does through strength. Comparing him to Han Solo instead of Luke Skywalker suggests Nolan is leaning into the character’s charm, flaws, and unpredictability rather than presenting him as a conventional noble hero.
See The Odyssey in cinemas from July 17th.
