The Odyssey is an unqualified hit, and the man responsible for this stunning tour de force has been toasted far and wide. Critics have even suggested that it surpasses its creator's previous effort in popularity—a claim that once seemed unthinkable—and may ultimately be remembered as his defining masterpiece!
Oh, and apparently there’s a movie, too.
I'm not here to review Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey (2026). Whether it's brilliant, disappointing, or somewhere in between isn't really the point.
Here's what I do know: The Odyssey—Homer's epic poem, that is—will almost certainly enjoy another surge in popularity. Every major adaptation of a beloved work reminds people that the original still exists. (Yes, even those live-action Disney remakes.) Some viewers will love the film's creative decisions. Others will insist the original did it better. Either way, we teachers come out ahead.
The Odyssey has been a cornerstone of Western literature for nearly three millennia and remains one of the most frequently taught works in secondary English classrooms. A major Hollywood adaptation gives us a rare opportunity to harness genuine student curiosity. When students walk into class asking, "What's the real story?" we're ready with the answer.
That's why we created Reaching Olympus: The Saga of the Trojan War and the Odyssey. This collection of Reader's Theater script-stories adapts the complete Greek epic saga—from the events that sparked the Trojan War to Odysseus's harrowing journey home. Students don't just read about Odysseus, Achilles, Penelope, the Cyclops, and Circe—they get to inhabit these legendary characters. Through performance, students experience the battles, betrayals, monsters, and heroes of Homer's world in a way that is engaging, accessible, and teachable in a couple of weeks.
No matter how many adaptations come and go, every generation deserves to experience the original.