Alec Baldwin publicly criticized Elon Musk's complaints on social media regarding Lupita Nyong'o's casting in The Odyssey
NEED TO KNOW
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Christopher Nolan confirmed in a recent interview that Nyong'o will portray Helen of Troy and Helen's sister Clytemnestra
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The Odyssey is in theaters July 17
Alec Baldwincertainly thinksLupita Nyong'ofits the bill as Helen of Troy inThe Odyssey.
Baldwin, 68, shared a photo of Nyong'o, 43, onInstagramon Friday, May 15, in response toElon Muskafter heamplified racist-tinged criticismofChristopher Nolan's decision to cast Nyong'o as Helen of Troy, saying she wasn't fit to play "the most beautiful woman in the world."
"Dear Elon… but she IS the most beautiful woman in the world…Alec," Baldwin wrote in a caption to his post. The actor's wifeHilaria Baldwinappeared to approve of Alec's sentiment, leaving the emojis "🔥❤️" in a comment.
Nyong'o has been attached toThe OdysseysinceThe Hollywood Reporterfirst reported that she would appear in the movie's ensemble cast back in November 2024. Rumors began swirling that she would appear in the movie as Helen of Troy in recent months, though Nyong'o has yet to appear in thetworeleasedtrailersfor the movie.
Filmmaker Nolan, 55, confirmed that Nyong'o isportraying both Helen of Troy and her sister ClytemnestrainThe Odysseyin aTimemagazineprofile published Tuesday, May 12.
Helen of Troy is a pivotal figure in the ancient Greek epic poems known as Homer'sThe IliadandOdyssey, the latter of which serves as the basis for Nolan's new movie. Helen is more commonly associated withThe Iliaddue to her role in starting the mythical Trojan War, but she appears in Homer'sOdysseyin one scene with the character Telemachus, whomTom Hollandportrays in the new movie.
Helen's sister Clytemnestra, whom Nyong'o will also portray in the film, marries the Greek hero Agamemnon (Benny Safdie) before Agamemnon leads the Greeks to war against Troy.The OdysseyfollowsMatt Damonas its title character Odysseus, a hero of the Trojan War who is lost for 10 years after fighting alongside Agamemnon as he attempts to return to his home, Ithaca.
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Musk, the Tesla CEO and owner of X, has complained about Nyong'o's role in the movie a number of times on social media in recent months. In February, he claimed onXthat two-timeOscarwinner Nolan "has lost his integrity" by casting Nyong'o as Helen.
Whoopi Goldbergsimilarlyleapt to Nyong'o's defenseonThe Viewin February, in which she addressed Musk directly and stated that Nyong'o "is also considered one of the world's most beautiful women."
"So I'm not sure what you're trying to say," she said at the time. "You don't have to actually go to the movie. I don't know why you feel like you need to speak on this, and I would suggest looking in a mirror if you have any concerns about people's looks, if this is where we're going."
In addition to Damon, Holland, Nyong'o and Safdie, Nolan's new movie also featuresAnne Hathaway,Elliot Page,Mia Goth,Charlize Theron,Robert Pattinson,John Leguizamo, andZendayain its ensemble cast.
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The Odysseyis in theaters July 17.
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