Emily Wilson, the University of Pennsylvania professor whose 2017 translation of Homer's The Odyssey inspired Christopher Nolan's recent film adaptation, is undertaking a complete retranslation of the ancient Greek epic. Wilson, who previously described Nolan's film as "abysmal," stated that the new project is not a revision of her earlier work but an entirely new translation, of which she is currently about halfway complete.
It is exceptionally rare for a translator to embark on a fresh translation of the same work so soon after a previous rendering. Wilson's critique of Nolan's film extended to its script, which she said she "would be ashamed to have written." She argued that the film, despite its apparent emphasis on human kindness and Zeus' Law, lacks psychological, emotional, political, and ethical depth. According to Wilson, the depiction of the Trojan Horse ruse as a violation of hospitality, or xenia, was particularly problematic. She suggested Nolan's film acts as "its own kind of Trojan horse," presenting a superficial adherence to compassion while betraying other values.
Wilson also voiced criticism of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, particularly in relation to its ideological underpinnings. She noted that while many students enjoy the books, she finds them "not designed for an adult literary reader." Wilson expressed concern that the narrative, especially in "The Lightning Thief," promotes an ideology of "American exceptionalism" through the lens of a white male protagonist, which she deems "ideologically and historically quite questionable."