A Global Production Scale
Christopher Nolan’s 2026 adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon as the titular king of Ithaca, marks a significant milestone in cinema as the first feature film shot entirely in the IMAX format. Utilizing newly developed, quieter cameras, the production eschewed heavy reliance on CGI in favor of practical locations across six countries: Italy, Greece, Morocco, Iceland, Scotland, and Malta.
Morocco: The City of Troy
The film’s depiction of Troy centers on the Moroccan port city of Essaouira and the fortified Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou. Near Ouarzazate, the production team constructed over 60 temporary structures, including a 2.5-acre ‘Temple of Athena’ set, to bring the ancient city to life. Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema utilized portable LED lighting to augment the practical fire effects used during the city’s destruction sequence.
Italy: Ithaca and the Aeolian Islands
The Egadi and Aeolian Islands off the coast of Sicily provided the backdrop for Ithaca and the mythological challenges of Aeolia. The exterior of Penelope’s palace was filmed at the Castello di Santa Caterina on the island of Favignana, which required the cast and crew to hike a steep, rocky ascent daily due to limited vehicular access. Meanwhile, the ‘Wandering Rocks’ were captured at the Faraglioni di Lipari, utilizing natural volcanic formations rather than digital assets.
Greece: The Peloponnese
In the Peloponnese, the production utilized Voidokilia Beach and the adjacent Nestor’s Cave to film the encounter with Polyphemus. Unlike traditional studio-based shoots for cave interiors, Nolan filmed inside the actual site. Methoni Castle, a 16th-century Venetian fortress, was transformed into the palace of Menelaus (Jon Bernthal) and Helen (Lupita Nyong’o), utilizing the site’s iconic octagonal Bourtzi tower.
Scotland, Iceland, and Malta
The production moved to the Culbin Forest in Scotland to capture the encounter with the Laestrygonians, employing forced-perspective and wirework to maintain the filmmaker’s preference for practical effects. In Iceland, the ‘Hades’ sequences were shot on the black sands of Hjörleifshöfði during the summer solstice. Finally, the Mediterranean Film Studios in Malta provided the necessary infrastructure for underwater sequences and ocean battles, leveraging some of the world’s largest water tanks.