Christopher Nolan's twin Oscar wins for 2023's Oppenheimer felt like long-awaited validation for one of the most prominent filmmakers of his era. From singular thrillers like Memento and Insomnia to his blockbuster Dark Knight trilogy, Nolan has always expressed a compelling vision onscreen. The latter stirred controversy (and ultimately changed the rules) when the Academy declined to nominate 2008's The Dark Knight for Best Picture, presumably because it was a big-budget superhero movie. Oppenheimer was viewed as a course correction on the Academy's part, and Nolan's wins combined with his strong box-office record leave him in the enviable position of being able to make anything he wants for his next project.

Nolan's recently announced choice is a surprise: a big-budget adaptation of Homer's epic Greek poem, The Odyssey. The story is one of the most influential pieces of literature ever written, and from Hollywood's perspective, the mythological elements...