Emily Wilson, the University of Pennsylvania classicist known for her acclaimed 2017 English translation of Homer's Odyssey, has criticised Christopher Nolan's forthcoming film adaptation, arguing he should have brought in a professional screenwriter. Writing in the London Review of Books, she said the film strips away Odysseus's defining trait — his cunning intelligence — leaving a protagonist without clear, believable motivation. The critique matters because it comes from one of the most respected living authorities on the text, lending particular weight to concerns about how faithfully the epic's central character has been adapted for the screen.

Wilson said Homer's Odysseus is complex and clever, but Matt Damon's on-screen version instead comes across as "constantly troubled by anxiety" rather than witty or cunning. She also felt the film's gods were underdeveloped, leaving their presence in the story unclear, and noted smaller gripes such as a lack of intimate scenes and unappetising-looking food. Despite these criticisms, Wilson said the film is "absolutely" worth watching and praised its cast, indicating her review is a scholarly critique of the script rather than a wholesale dismissal of the production.