Filmmaker Sir Christopher Nolan has stated that Marvel and DC superheroes originate "pretty directly" from the Homeric epics, drawing a clear parallel between ancient Greek mythology and modern comic book narratives.
The 55-year-old director, renowned for his Dark Knight Batman trilogy, is set to release his big-screen adaptation of The Odyssey in July, featuring a cast including Tom Holland, Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Robert Pattinson.
Appearing on the US chat show The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Sir Christopher was asked if Greek heroes inspired contemporary superheroes. He affirmed: "Very directly, they are, they’re the original superheroes. Even comic-book culture, whether you’re talking about Marvel or DC or the rest, a lot of it comes pretty directly from the Homeric epics."
He pondered the elusive identity of Homer, noting: "The thing about Homer is nobody knows if that was a person, they don’t know, I mean, Homer, in a way, is the sort of George Lucas, maybe of his time. I mean, nobody really knows who this person was or whether it was more than one person."
Nolan further explained the enduring resonance, adding: "The thing about Homer is it’s the Marvel of its day, I mean, that’s the thing, and so I think there’s very directly this desire for us to feel or believe that Gods can walk amongst us, and I think the modern comic book is kind of our expression of that."
The Odyssey follows Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca, on his long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War. He encounters mythical beings such as the Cyclops Polyphemus, sirens, and the nymph Calypso, all while striving to reunite with his wife, Penelope.
The director, whose filmography also includes Oppenheimer, Dunkirk, and Interstellar, first encountered The Odyssey during a school play at "four or five". He acknowledged it's "a story that we all kind of know a bit about" but assured fans his adaptation would allow them to "come to it really fresh".
The film will also star Zendaya, Charlize Theron, and Lupita Nyong’o, and is scheduled for release in cinemas on 17 July.
