The timelessness of Greek mythology and literature is having a moment with Christopher Nolan’s take on Homer’s The Odyssey. The epic brings the blueprint for the hero’s journey to the big screen, and with that, we’re highlighting recent interpretations of the original mighty myth universe from which so many powerful stories have drawn.
These tales go back to the gods and goddesses reigning from atop Mount Olympus who would often interfere with mere mortals through trials that would bring out the best and worst of ancient civilizations. For many, the short versions of many myths, such as Cupid and Psyche or Medusa, were our gateway to the genre fantasy and bigger epic tomes. And since these generational tales have been passed down over and over, they have reaped so many versions of what befell Hercules in his life quests or Persephone when she was crowned the queen of the underworld.
In recent years before The Odyssey’s release, there have been a few adaptations that have inspired legions of fans, from video games with the Hades series to the romantasy webcomic phenomenon of Rachel Smythe’s Lore: Olympus. Here are our picks of some you should check out to celebrate Nolan’s epic.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Disney+ show, films, and book series)
In pop culture, Rick Riordan’s popular YA book series about the children of various gods and goddesses has seen movie adaptations and more recently a successful Disney+ series. Many of us grew up on the books and films. Now we, along with a new generation of fans, have an ongoing serial adaptation of Percy (son of Poseidon) and his fellow demigod friends taking on their own heroic trials as they come of age. The series is deeply interwoven with inspiration from the original source myths, with the gods just not being able to help themselves from meddling in human affairs.
KAOS (Netflix series)
For a more adult audience, KAOS was a short-lived series on Netflix that featured Jeff Goldblum as Zeus. The show explores a modern world where the gods didn’t go away. Many of the known myths, including Orpheus and Eurydice, Prometheus, and even delicious interruptions by the fates (led by Suzy Eddie Izzard), take place in a darkly comedic, gorgeously cinematic, and sharply political re-imagining. It should have gotten more seasons!
Hadestown – The Broadway Musical (Coming to theaters)
Based on Anaïs Mitchell’s concept album about the tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice, the Broadway musical directed by Rachel Chavkin went on to win eight Tonys, including Best Musical. The captivating stage version with the original cast will soon be coming to theaters for a limited run. This gives more people a chance to witness the all-time musical performances of its ensemble in an epic about the human world on the brink of a great depression.
We can’t wait to be transported by the angelic voice of Orpheus (Penny Dreadful’s Reeve Carney) way down to the industrial underworld gripped by Hades’ (Broadway legend Patrick Page) capitalistic reign to get his love, Eurydice (Eva Noblezada), back. The powerhouse duo of Amber Page (recently seen as Riff Raff on Broadway’s The Rocky Horror Picture Show) and entertainment’s national treasure André De Shields co-star as Persephone and Hermes, respectively. The original cast reprised their roles on the West End for the filmed-for-movie-theaters version. It hits screens July 24 for five nights only.
Lore Olympus (Webtoon Comic and Upcoming Animated Series)
The alternative universe take on Persephone and Hades dives into an interpretation of the legend where the goddess of spring falls in love with the king of the underworld. The gorgeously drawn and colored comic by Rachel Smythe is filled with epic whimsy, relatable content. It parses through consent and womanhood on the brink of powerful change.
The romantasy gave off off-the-charts levels of yearning between the fabled lovers that hooked weekly readers rooting for their inevitable fate together. Eventually the series was published in volumes. They beautifully mapped out the soap-opera drama among the gods and goddesses. Fans enthusiastically followed Persephone’s well-earned ascension into her role as the Queen of the Underworld.
Circe (2018 Novel)
Madeline Miller’s 2018 novel takes one of The Odyssey’s side quests with the enchantress Circe and spins out a yarn from her point of view that captivated readers. Offering a more complex take on the witch who turns men into pigs and keeps the company of Odysseus for longer than he might have wanted, it explores a new side of the story. Here, Circe grapples with choosing mortality as she pushes back on the whims of the gods but re-examines her role in the epic tale.
Hades I and II (Video Games)
Probably the most unexpected way into the alternate interpretations of the Hades and Persephone myth, which includes their having various children and how they felt about them, is a sprawling dungeon crawler video game from Supergiant.
In it, you play as their battle-born son Zagreus (Hades I) and daughter Melinoe (Hades II). They encounter larger-than-life allies and power-hungry foes among the pantheon of gods and goddesses, including their dad. The engaging combat and engrossing character arcs have solidified this game series as a modern favorite that sets the standard for adaptation in an interactive medium.
Blood of Zeus (Netflix series)
Following Heron, an illegitimate son of Zeus, Netflix’s adult animated series delves into the violence and darkness of the consequences that befall the realms at the bidding of the gods. Full of war, bloodshed, and a fight for legacy, the brutal outright war between the Titans and the pantheon gets an anime treatment that’s quickly garnered acclaim among genre fans.
The Penelopiad (Margaret Atwood novella)
The author of The Handmaid’s Tale wrote a short novella from the perspective of Odysseus’ wife Penelope. It provided an essential perspective to the otherside of the long journey the hero took to get back home. Atwood gave Penelope control of the narrative in a way that gave her more agency as a strategist. It was also satirizing how her husband’s heroics might have been greatly exaggerated. This quick read is the perfect appetizer before planting your butt in that IMAX theater seat to see The Odyssey.