Elliot Page’s ‘Odyssey’ Role Sparks New Mystery Ahead of Release Date

Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey‘ is just days away from its theatrical release, and one casting question continues to intrigue fans. For months, viewers have speculated about Elliot Page’s role in this adaptation of Homer’s epic, with the prevailing theory being that Page portrays the ghost of Achilles.

However, this theory has lost momentum recently. A newly revealed Hungarian dubbing cast list suggests Page’s character is named Sinon, a name that does not appear in Homer’s original text, leading to further confusion rather than clarity.

The Achilles theory gained traction after a trailer featured a brief, shadowy glimpse of Page’s character asking Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, who is caring for his wife and son. This line does not exist in Homer’s work, but the somber tone resonated with how Achilles is depicted in the underworld scenes of the epic.

In the original poem, the encounter between Odysseus and Achilles’ ghost is one of the most poignant moments, as the once-great warrior confronts the futility of his glory in death.

This gut-wrenching sequence seems perfectly suited to Nolan’s style of grand, emotionally charged storytelling, which is why fans embraced the Achilles theory so eagerly.

The allure of this theory also stems from generational influences. Brad Pitt’s portrayal of Achilles in ‘Troy’ has overshadowed subsequent adaptations for two decades, and casting Page in this role would allow Nolan’s film to break free from that legacy. This perspective helped keep the rumor alive on social media long after it might have otherwise faded.

As the Achilles speculation waned, another theory emerged, suggesting Page might be playing Elpenor, a young member of Odysseus’s crew who dies while with the witch Circe. Elpenor is one of the spirits Odysseus encounters in the underworld, making the ghostly visuals in the trailer equally fitting for him.

Fans have pointed to a photo shared by fellow ‘Odyssey’ cast member Ryan de Quintal, which appears to show the film’s crew of sailors gathered around a dinner table, with Page among them.

While a cast photo alone does not confirm anything, and Universal has not commented on it, it has been enough to keep the Elpenor theory alive.

The thematic connection to Elpenor aligns with Nolan’s storytelling style. The notion of a young, overlooked crew member left unburied and haunted by guilt resonates with the intimate, character-driven moments Nolan often emphasizes in his larger sequences. This interpretation has made the Elpenor theory feel like the more plausible option.

Despite extensive speculation, neither Christopher Nolan, Elliot Page, nor Universal Pictures has confirmed whether Page is portraying Elpenor, Achilles, or another character entirely. A more comprehensive cast list obtained by IGN Hungary through Universal’s international distributor has effectively dispelled the Achilles rumor, but it has not clarified Page’s actual role.

Interestingly, the list is notable for who is absent. Athena is the only Greek god mentioned, while Poseidon, Zeus, Hermes, and Helios are all missing, along with characters like Cassandra, Aeolus, Nausicaa, and Achilles himself.

This absence does not necessarily indicate that these figures are excluded from the film, only that they are not part of the leaked dubbing cast list.

Page’s role in ‘The Odyssey’ marks his second collaboration with Nolan, following 2010’s ‘Inception’, and it is his first project with the director since coming out as trans in 2020. This context has sparked a wave of backlash from some right-wing commentators, including Elon Musk, who criticized the idea of casting a transgender actor as a classical Greek hero before any role was confirmed.

The controversy surrounding Page’s casting prompted Nolan to respond, describing the backlash as irrelevant and countering the narrative surrounding a role that was never officially confirmed.

The film itself represents a significant undertaking for Nolan, adapting Homer’s epic with Matt Damon as Odysseus and Anne Hathaway as his wife Penelope, alongside a star-studded cast including Tom Holland as Telemachus, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Samantha Morton, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron. Nolan reportedly began writing the project in March 2024 and secured it with Universal Pictures by October, with a budget of around 250 million dollars, making it the most expensive film of his career.

Nolan has shared how the story has resonated with him since childhood, recalling watching a school play of the Odyssey as a young child and noting that the epic feels foundational to nearly every film he has made since. This personal connection to the material is part of why fans are so invested in uncovering every casting detail, down to the mystery surrounding Page’s role.

With the film set to open this weekend, the truth about Page’s character will finally be revealed, allowing audiences to move beyond speculation based on trailers and leaked dubbing sheets. Now that the Achilles theory has been largely dismissed, who do you think Elliot Page is actually portraying when ‘The Odyssey’ premieres in theaters?