Penn classics professor Emily Wilson is back in the spotlight, thanks in part to Christopher Nolan.

The Oppenheimer director recently announced an adaptation of The Odyssey as his next project, prompting a deluge of reactions on social media, from newcomers googling the ancient Greek text to literature nerds disparaging anyone unfamiliar with it (and simultaneously decrying the state of English education).

Considered one of the most significant works in Western literature, Homer's Odyssey follows King Odysseus on his dangerous, long journey home after the Trojan War to reclaim his kingdom. The epic poem dates back to the 8th century BC and its English translations have been staples for classical and literature courses for decades.

That's where Wilson's groundbreaking contribution comes in: in 2017, she became the first woman to publish a translation of The Odyssey — some 2700 years after Homer wrote the original — with a wholly fresh take that renewed contemporary interest in the ancient story. The Oxford and Yale grad has taught at Penn since 2002.

Amid the reactions to Nolan's forthcoming film, one librarian on X suggested Wilson's work as a good starting point, writing, "'Oh, you've never read The Odyssey???' Your timing is perfect. Emily Wilson's translation is the best one in literally ages, has that sweet iambic pentameter to give it a 'bouncy' feel, & makes dudebros cry that the classic has 'gone woke.'"

After the librarian's tweet went viral, the internet has been debating Wilson's translation, reigniting conversations around her interpretations of female characters, and comparing her verses to previous translators like Robert Fagles and T.E. Lawrence. Classics experts have praised Wilson's work, including her translation of The Odyssey's prequel, The Iliad, and in 2019 she was named awarded a MacArthur Foundation "Genius" Award.

"I wanted to bring out the potential [in The Odyssey]," Wilson told The Inquirer that year. "There's more than one voice. There's more than one character. Each of the characters is vivid, well-rounded, and has their own different perspective in the narrative. It's not as Odysseus-centric as some translations might make you think."

Now that Nolan will adapt the epic poem for the screen, many hope that Wilson's much lauded interpretation will serve as a reference point for his and his partner-collaborator Emma Thomas' screenplay. Film production is scheduled to begin in 2025 with an estimated release date of July 17, 2026. So far a star-studded cast has been announced, including Matt Damon, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, and Tom Holland.

©2025 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Visit at inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.