Elon Musk's AI-Generated 'Odyssey' Episode Released to Widespread Criticism

Three months after announcing plans for a full-length AI-generated film of Homer's *Odyssey*, Elon Musk's AI model Grok released a seven-minute episode on X on October 25, 2026, created in collaboration with Wonder Studios and director Dev Walker. The episode marks a partial follow-through on Musk's July promise to deliver a "historically accurate" adaptation by year-end.

Musk's project emerged amid his public criticism of Christopher Nolan's *Odyssey* film, released in July 2026. Musk objected to Nolan's casting choices, including actors of color and transgender performers, stating the film lacked historical accuracy despite being based on ancient poetry rather than documentary evidence. Nolan's version became a major commercial and critical success, earning approximately $1.76–$1.8 billion globally and generating widespread critical praise.

The Grok episode has drawn immediate and substantial criticism across multiple platforms. Reviewers and online commentators identified several technical and artistic shortcomings: unnatural skin and hair textures typical of AI video; lighting and background detail problems; stilted dialogue; and a narrator using a modern British accent inconsistent with the ancient Greek setting. Critics also noted narrative issues—characters are poorly introduced, backstory dominates the runtime, and dramatic momentum is absent. One viewer summarized the criticism: the episode lacks "any sense of artistry, inspiration, or human interest" and feels "completely airless."

Historical accuracy claims have also been questioned. The episode depicts the Greeks arriving at Troy in English-language dialogue, yet *Odyssey* narratives begin after the Trojan War. Additionally, observers noted the cast consists entirely of white characters, reflecting Musk's stated casting preferences rather than demonstrating fidelity to Homer's text.

Director Scott Derrickson previously dismissed Musk's film ambitions, writing on X in July that "@elonmusk doesn't know shit about cinema & he stopped reading in his 20s. His opinions on art are worthless." Online responses to the released episode have been similarly unfavorable, with commentators calling it "sterile," a "complete waste of time and money," and evidence that AI has little understanding of art and human storytelling.

The timeline for the announced full-length feature remains unclear; Grok's post invited viewer feedback but did not specify when further episodes would be released.