When Christopher Nolan casts someone, there’s usually a bigger idea behind it. That seems to be exactly the case with rapper Travis Scott joining ‘The Odyssey’s ensemble.
Nolan claims that Scott’s casting was not just about having star power. Rather, the filmmaker wished to have the rapper’s presence embody the origins of Homer’s legendary tale itself.
Christopher Nolan Sees Rap As The Modern Version Of Ancient Epic Poetry
In an interview with Time, Nolan explained, “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.”
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That’s an unexpected, thought-provoking comparison, but one that makes a lot of sense. Stories were not only printed in books, but they were also passed on through rhythm, performance, and spoken word long before that.
Rap is actually in a surprisingly similar world, with cadence, memory, storytelling, and emotion. Nolan’s remarks indicate that he would like ‘The Odyssey’ to be more than a dusty old book.
After the first trailer for the film dropped earlier this year, fans had been speculating about Scott’s involvement. The rapper was seen in a strange scene, leading to speculation on his involvement. Now, with Nolan’s explanation, the casting choice has a lot more meaning.
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There is also a feeling that Nolan is taking more artistic chances than ever before with the creative license that he has acquired since he made ‘Oppenheimer’.
“That gave me options. And what had never really been done is a cinematic telling of ‘The Odyssey’ with all the capacity of a large-scale Hollywood studio production. It’s an odd gap in movie history,” he said.
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‘The Odyssey’ was a project Nolan wanted to do on a grand scale, and he felt that was a void that needed to be filled in the history of cinema.
The project is already looking to become one of his most ambitious films yet, with a cast that includes Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, and Lupita Nyong’o.
The film is also said to be the first feature movie shot entirely on IMAX cameras, adding to the magnitude and stress of the shoot. Some listeners might have thought the involvement of Scott was a coincidence. However, when Nolan explains it, the choice seems like a very conscious one, almost poetic on its own.
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