The Odyssey is one of the most important works of Western Literature. For centuries, Homer’s epic has shaped the way we think about fundamental concepts such as duty and hospitality. Its depiction of the cunning Odysseus has influenced heroes from Sherlock Holmes to Superman. Countless of people have studied The Odyssey closely, have built their lives around it, and even more have heard and enjoyed it time and again. And yet, devotees of The Odyssey have nothing on Bat-fans.

When asked by The Telegrah about the various online critiques leveled at his upcoming film, director Christopher Nolan puts things in perspective. “I spent 10 years of my life dealing with Batman,” he points out. “When I came on to Batman Begins, writers and artists had been working on this beloved character for almost 65 years, and a lot of freighted thoughts were out there about what he represents.”

Even though The Odyssey still doesn’t release in theaters for another week, and even though there have been precious few adaptations of the story, and certainly none on a Hollywood blockbuster scale, commentators online have had strong opinions about the story. Perhaps the most gentle and reasonable critique came with the first images, when a Twitter user noted that the helmet worn by Matt Damon differs from the one described in the text.

However, since then, reactions have only grown more unhinged. People complain that Nolan has cast Elliot Page, a celebrated actor with whom he worked on Inception, because Page is trans. Others have grouched about Nolan casting rapper and actor Travis Scott, a man famous for his ability to tell stories in rhyme, as a bard. Most ludicrously of all, commentators were infuriated that Academy Award-winning actress, polyglot, and international model Lupita Nyong’o would play the face that launched a thousand ships, Helen of Troy.