Why Odysseus Has an American Accent in Nolan's Film

TL;DR

Christopher Nolan's Odyssey features American accents for all characters, challenging Hollywood's century-old tradition of using British accents for powerful figures rooted in colonial-era casting practices.

Key Takeaways

1Hollywood's reliance on British accents for powerful characters stems from early cinema casting British stage actors as elites in Roman epics
2This linguistic convention reflects and reinforces associations between British accents and the British Empire's power and prestige
3Using American accents for all characters in Odyssey is logical since they speak ancient Greek in-universe, making any modern accent choice equally arbitrary
4The continued expectation of British accents for powerful figures shows how colonial-era associations persist in modern filmmaking decades after the empire's dissolution
5Nolan's choice raises a broader question about what 'power' sounds like in contemporary media after the end of the British Empire

Notable Quotes

“In universe, the characters are speaking ancient Greek. There's no logical reason that to us they should sound like they're talking BBC English.”

“The reason American accents sound weird here is we're used to actors in period and fantasy movies using British accents.”

“Now that the British Empire is over, what does power sound like?”

Chapters

1. The Oddity of American Accents in Epic Film

Odysseus and other characters in Nolan's Odyssey film speak with American accents, which strikes audiences as unusual despite being logically sound since the characters speak ancient Greek in the story's universe.

2. Historical Origins of British Accents in Cinema

Early Hollywood epics established a casting convention where British stage actors played elite, powerful characters while American actors portrayed relatable heroes—a practice rooted in the prestige associated with the British Empire.

3. Lingering Colonial Associations in Modern Film

Even decades after the British Empire's dissolution, audiences subconsciously associate British accents with power and authority, leading to the expectation that kings, queens, and gods should speak with British accents.

4. Redefining Power Through Voice

Nolan's deliberate choice to use American accents for all characters challenges the ingrained convention and prompts a critical examination of what power and authority should sound like in contemporary storytelling.

Key People & Entities

Christopher Nolan: Director of the new Odyssey film featuring American-accented characters

Glossary

BBC English: Received Pronunciation (RP), the accent associated with the British Broadcasting Corporation and considered the standard prestigious British English accent
Period films: Movies set in historical time periods, often featuring characters from non-American origins

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