Christopher Nolan is opening up about one of the more surprising casting choices in The Odyssey, confirming Travis Scott plays a bard in the upcoming Universal epic.
The rapper’s involvement has been the subject of speculation since he popped up in the film’s marketing, with fans wondering exactly how he fits into Nolan’s take on Homer’s classic story.
Now Nolan says the casting ties directly into the roots of The Odyssey itself.
Travis Scott Plays A Bard In The Odyssey
In a new interview with Time, Nolan confirmed Travis Scott appears in The Odyssey as a bard.
“I cast him because I wanted to nod towards the idea that this story has been handed down as oral poetry, which is analogous to rap,” Nolan said.
Scott is also no stranger to Nolan’s work. He contributed “The Plan” to Tenet, so this marks another connection between the rapper and the director.
Lupita Nyong’o Confirmed As Helen Of Troy
The Time interview also confirms a major casting detail we previously covered as a rumor: Lupita Nyong’o is playing Helen of Troy.
Helen is described as the most beautiful woman in the world and the woman blamed for helping spark the Trojan War after being taken by a Trojan prince. In Homer’s poem, her reunion with Menelaus, played by Jon Bernthal in the film, is relatively neat.
However, Nolan is doubling down.
Time also reveals Nyong’o has a second role in the movie. She plays Helen’s sister, Clytemnestra, whose marriage to Agamemnon, played by Benny Safdie, is described as acrimonious, meaning angry and bitter.
For every confirmed actor and role, see our full Odyssey cast list.
Nyong’o’s past exit from The Woman King has also resurfaced amid The Odyssey backlash, with critics connecting it to her previous comments about cultural representation.
Nolan Is Avoiding A Traditional Orchestra
While Nolan isn’t keeping with traditional casting, his approach to the score is closer to the time period.
Composer Ludwig Göransson says Nolan instructed him not to use an orchestra for The Odyssey. The idea is to avoid the expected sound of a swords-and-sandals epic.
“It’s not like the orchestra existed back then,” Göransson told Time.
Previous Rumors Are Starting To Line Up
Our previous article covered rumors surrounding The Odyssey, including speculation that Lupita Nyong’o would play Helen of Troy and Elliot Page could be playing Achilles.
We have also put together a full The Odyssey cast heritage breakdown as the debate over Nolan’s casting choices continues.
Nyong’o’s role as Helen is now confirmed. Her second role as Clytemnestra adds another layer, especially with the film dealing with the fallout of the Trojan War and the broken families left behind.
The Elliot Page/Achilles rumor has not been confirmed, so that part remains in the rumor category for now.
The Odyssey Release Info
The Odyssey is written and directed by Christopher Nolan and is based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic.
The film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, with Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, Elliot Page, Mia Goth, John Leguizamo, and Travis Scott.
The Odyssey opens in theaters on July 17, 2026, from Universal Pictures.
