Whoopi Goldberg has lashed out at The Odyssey viewers who have difficulty with the role of Elliot Page. The actor stars in Christopher Nolan’s new blockbuster hit as Sinon, but some audiences are focusing solely on the fact that Page (who made it clear in 2020 that he identifies as a trans man) has been cast in a male role.
‘Then don’t go’
Goldberg is a moderator of the American talk show The Viewin which a variable panel discusses current affairs. On Tuesday came The Odyssey discussed, the film that is currently even attracting Dutch people to Brussels. Goldberg, known for her leading role in The Color Purple (1985), took a moment to slam criticism of trans actor Elliot Page.
“A lot of conservative people going into the movie will have the same opinion about this,” Goldberg begins. “And that’s fine in itself. But why are you going there? If you don’t want to go, don’t do it. Why are you worrying about the casting?”
Achilles
Page plays the Greek soldier Sinon, but there were previously rumors online that the actor may have been cast as the famous warrior Achilles. In Troy (2004), this role was played by Brad Pitt. Noted conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro said in a recent video that it was “stupid” to cast Page as a man, receiving widespread support from like-minded people for doing so.
8.5
After the fall of Troy, Odysseus, king of Ithaca, begins a long and dangerous journey back home. During this journey he and his crew are confronted with various creatures such as the sirens, the cyclops Polyphemos and Circe, the daughter of the sun god.
Creative freedom
Nolan previously responded to critical voices regarding his casting choices by stating that changes are the core of creative adaptation. The director not only received reactions to his casting of Page, but also the choice of a black actress (Lupita Nyong’o, ed.) as Helen of Troy could not count on universal approval. Nolan already worked with Page more than fifteen years ago Inception (2010). At the time, the actor still identified as a woman.
Beeld: Still ‘The Odyssey’ via TMDb
