Updated

Updated · The New York Times · Jul 29

Leguizamo Credits Diverse Casting for The Odyssey's Worldwide Box Office Surge at 66

Updated

Updated · The New York Times · Jul 29

Leguizamo Credits Diverse Casting for The Odyssey's Worldwide Box Office Surge at 66

Q: How did John Leguizamo perform nearly blind in The Odyssey—and why did he fear one scene would make Eumaeus infamous?

John Leguizamo performed the role of Eumaeus while wearing special contact lenses that left him nearly blind for much of the shoot, sometimes for 12 to 14 hours at a time. He said the lenses made it impossible to properly read, see his phone, or move around independently, and that he often had to be guided to the bathroom, back to set, and to meals. He described the experience as physically punishing and mentally intense, especially because he was forced to spend long stretches alone with his thoughts. He has said the role was among the most demanding of his career, made even harder by the film’s heavy practical approach, long makeup sessions, and prosthetic work. In Nolan’s large-scale production, Leguizamo had to stay in character and perform despite being only barely able to see. The scene he feared would make Eumaeus infamous was a flashback in which the character throws a puppy off a cliff as part of a harsh ancient breeding practice. Leguizamo said that while filming it, he worried audiences would see Eumaeus as “the most reviled person in cinema history.” That concern eased when he learned the puppy was never in danger and was safely caught off camera. He also noted that the character later regains sympathy through his loyalty to Odysseus’ family and his protection of the dog Argos, helping balance that disturbing early moment.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 29

John Leguizamo said Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” has scored huge worldwide box office partly because its inclusive casting makes the ancient story “belong to all of us.”
The 66-year-old actor said the film is bigger than anything he has done before, even after major roles in “Moulin Rouge!,” “Ice Age” and “Encanto.”
Leguizamo plays Eumaeus, the blind servant awaiting Odysseus’s return, and said special contact lenses left him nearly sightless during the performance.
With the film already drawing awards-season buzz, Leguizamo’s comments frame its commercial success as part of a broader push for representation in Hollywood.