After captivating a new generation with its retelling of Homer’s The Odyssey, the popular concept musical Epic: El musical, created by Puerto Rican artist Jorge Rivera-Herrans, has received a major Hollywood endorsement. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, renowned for films like Top Gun and Pirates of the Caribbean, is set to produce an animated musical adaptation of the epic saga, joined by Kevin Weaver, president of Atlantic Music Group. Chad Oman of Jerry Bruckheimer Films will also be involved in the production.
Epic: El musical gained significant traction by going viral on TikTok. The musical reimagines Homer’s The Odyssey across nine distinct sagas, or albums. Featuring an orchestral pop style, the production chronicles Odysseus’ 20-year journey home to Ithaca, facing gods and monsters, with a strong emphasis on the character’s moral evolution. As of December 25, 2024, the musical has adapted nine sagas of Homer’s epic.
The animated film project is currently in its early stages, with CAA, Bruckheimer’s representing agency, set to present it to studios and streaming platforms. This would mark Bruckheimer’s first foray into animation. However, he is not the only one tackling The Odyssey in Hollywood; Christopher Nolan is also releasing his own live-action adaptation on July 16th. Meanwhile, Epic: El musical has successfully ignited an interest in Greek mythology among Generation Z, reminiscent of the impact Saint Seiya had on Millennials.
Rivera-Herrans, a playwright, composer, lyricist, and actor, initially developed Epic: El musical as his senior thesis at the University of Notre Dame. The project gained momentum when he began sharing his creative process on TikTok starting in 2021, subsequently releasing the sagas as musical albums from 2022 onwards. His independently released EPs topped the iTunes charts and later claimed the number one spot on the soundtrack charts, with the musical occupying nine of the top 10 positions.
