AUSTIN, Texas—Elon Musk said on Wednesday that xAI's Grok Imagine platform will produce a full-length artificial intelligence-generated adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey before the end of 2026, escalating his public criticism of filmmaker Christopher Nolan's recent adaptation of the ancient Greek epic.
In a post on his social media platform X, Musk wrote that "Before this year ends, Grok Imagine will make a full-length movie of The Odyssey that is historically accurate and true to the art of Homer." The announcement accompanied a short AI-generated video depicting a scene involving Odysseus and the nymph Calypso, created using Grok Imagine.
Musk did not provide technical details about how the feature-length production would be made, identify a production team, or explain what he meant by describing the film as "historically accurate." The Odyssey is an ancient Greek epic traditionally attributed to Homer and is widely regarded as a foundational work of mythology and literature rather than a historical record.
The announcement follows months of criticism by Musk of Nolan's adaptation, particularly over casting decisions. Earlier this week, Musk also responded positively to a social media user's suggestion that filmmaker Mel Gibson be funded to direct an adaptation using dialogue drawn directly from the original poem in Homeric Greek, although no such project has been announced.
Nolan's The Odyssey, released globally in recent days, has performed strongly at the box office, taking in about $264 million worldwide during its opening weekend, according to multiple media reports. The film has also received positive audience and critical reception, despite public debate surrounding some of its casting choices.
Musk's announcement comes as technology companies continue to expand AI-powered tools capable of generating increasingly sophisticated video content, intensifying debate within the entertainment industry over artificial intelligence's role in filmmaking and creative production. Nolan has previously expressed skepticism about AI replacing human creativity in cinema.
As of Thursday, xAI had not released additional information on the project's production schedule, creative process or distribution plans, and no release date beyond Musk's stated goal of completing the film before the end of 2026 had been officially announced.
