Audiences have noted that trailers for “The Odyssey” showcase the actors using a very modern form of English. Words like “Daddy” and exclamations like “Let’s go!” jumped out to viewers, eager to dissect the first glimpses of Christopher Nolan’s take on the classic epic.

When asked about using modern language in his upcoming historical fantasy film, Nolan called the decision “a no-brainer.”

“I was maybe being naïve, it might bite me on the ass,” Nolan admitted to the LA Times. “But I wanted an earthy narrative.”

That decision was probably for the best. While some social media users have poked fun at the updated dialogue in Nolan’s spin on the centuries-old epic, it’s hard to imagine a modern blockbuster committing to a direct translation of the material. Keep in mind, debates over which translation of “The Odyssey” best captures the original epic passed down via oral tradition (or if a single “Homer” even existed) have raged long before Nolan ever got his hands on the material.

As Nolan put it, he wanted “language that has emotional not intellectual meaning to people.”

Nolan has made some massively accessible blockbusters, with the director’s “Dark Knight” trilogy mixing his own voice as a filmmaker with traditional superhero storytelling. At the same time, he’s made several films that, while beloved, are notably dense, with movies like “Memento,” “Tenet” and even his Best Picture winner “Oppenheimer” mixing intricate narratives with nonlinear storytelling.

It’s notable that he wants the language of “The Odyssey” to cut through formality and hit audiences in a more emotionally direct way. Thus far, it seems to be working, with early viewers praising the blockbuster as a triumphant feat of filmmaking.

“It’s Christopher Nolan’s most straightforward movie ever — and also maybe his most impressive,” user @jacobkleinman said on X. “Both the epic scale and attention to detail are absolutely stunning. The closest comparison I can think of is Peter Jackson’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy.”

A federal judge ruled in favor of The Washington Post last week, formally throwing out Trump Media’s $3.8 billion defamation lawsuit against the outlet.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber issued the ruling on Thursday and wrote in his summary docket that President Donald Trump’s social media company “failed to present evidence that would allow a jury to find by clear and convincing evidence” that the outlet  “published the allegedly defamatory statements with actual malice.”

Barber formally granted The Post’s motion for summary judgement, as well as denied one from Trump Media.

“The Pretrial Conference set for July 113, 2026, is cancelled,” Barber further noted. “A written order memorializing and explaining these ruling swill follow in due course.”

“We are pleased with the court’s decision and look forward to reviewing its written order upon release,” a Washington Post spokeswoman said in a statement shared with the outlet.

The decision comes three years after Trump Media and Technology Group sued The Washington Post for defamation, alleging a “years-long crusade” had been conducted by the paper. The Trump Media lawyers cited an “egregious hit piece” in their suit, referring to a May 2023 article that discussed the company’s financing efforts ahead of a merger to take the company public.

More to come…

Nearly 30 years later, the Spice Girls are giving fans what they want (what they really, really want).

Melanie Chisholm, aka Mel C/Sporty Spice, recently teased that Spice World (1997) should be available to stream in “the not-too-distant future” for the first time since the cult classic musical comedy debuted.

“It’s not available at the moment. It will be, because there were a lot of people that owned it. It was kind of all over the place,” she revealed on The Louis Theroux Podcast.

“So we’ve had to come together,” added Chisholm. “The Spice Girls now fully own it, so we will be presenting it at some point in hopefully the not-too-distant future for people to enjoy.

Written by Kim Fuller and directed by Bob Spiers, Spice World followed the girl group as they toured London in their double-decker bus, getting into various adventures while at the height of their fame.

In addition to the Spice Girls, the movie also featured an all-star ensemble, including Alan Cumming, Elton John, Richard E. Grant, Jennifer Saunders, Hugh Laurie, Roger Moore, Meat Loaf and Elvis Costello.

While Wednesday marks the 30th anniversary of their 1996 hit single “Wannabe”, followed by the milestone anniversary of their debut album Spice in September, Chisholm previously revealed there are no plans for a reunion.

“Yeah, it’s a big one. And no, there is no reunion,” she said on The Smallzy Show. “We’re communicating all the time, and we want to do something — who knows when? But I still feel very optimistic, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you’ll see the Spice Girls together in the future.”

The last time all five members of the Spice Girls performed together was at the London 2012 Olympic Games closing ceremony. While they have had reunions since, including a tour in 2019 that took place without Victoria Beckham, this was their final performance as a quintet.