He added, “We went all over the world to make this film because this is The Odyssey. You’ll be pleased to hear how difficult it was for us because it’s meant to be difficult. That’s the nature of the story.” That approach led Nolan to film in various locations, staying true to his preference for practical effects and real locales over digital-heavy production methods.<\/p>\n
From the Mediterranean shores to Nordic landscapes, the destinations captured the drama and grandeur of Homer’s saga. Here’s a closer look at the places that brought the ancient story to life.<\/p>\n
Greece<\/p>\n
Peloponnese Region: Nestor’s Cave, Voidokilia Beach, Methoni Castle<\/p>\n
No adaptation of The Odyssey would be complete without filming in Greece. Last year, the Hellenic Film Commission<\/a> confirmed that the crew visited multiple sites in the Peloponnese region. These included Nestor’s Cave, a coastal cave linked to Greek mythology, and Voidokilia Beach, famous for its semicircular shape and turquoise waters.<\/p>\n The colossal castle of Methoni stretches roughly 93 acres.Gatsi – Getty Images<\/p>\n Other featured locations are Almyrolaka Beach, the medieval Methoni Castle, and Acrocorinth, an ancient acropolis that rises above the land. These scenic spots help ground the film in its original setting and highlight the historical background of Homer’s epic poem.<\/p>\n Italy<\/p>\n Sicily and the Aeolian Islands<\/p>\n Italy is a key setting for the film. Much of the production is based in Sicily<\/a>, especially on the island of Favignana, also known as “Goat Island.” Cast members, such as Damon and Tom Holland, were seen filming<\/a> on its rocky coast in March of last year. Sicily has long been linked to The Odyssey and is thought to have inspired the land of the Cyclopes.<\/p>\n According to legend, Favignana was where Odysseus and his crew stopped before they faced Cyclops Polyphemus.Francesco Riccardo Iacomino – Getty Images<\/p>\n According to The Times<\/a>, filming extended to the Aeolian Islands, including Basiluzzo, Lipari, and Vulcano. Their volcanic landscapes and dramatic coastlines create a natural, almost mythical setting for the story’s encounters with gods and monsters.<\/p>\n Further south of Sicily and the Aeolian Islands, the country of Malta also served as a shooting location.<\/p>\n Scotland<\/p>\n Moray Firth Coast, Findlater Castle, Culbin Forest<\/p>\n Parts of The Odyssey were filmed along Scotland’s Moray Firth coast. The ruins of Findlater Castle<\/a>, perched high on a cliff, offered a rugged, windswept backdrop in contrast with some of the Mediterranean settings. Meanwhile, nearby beaches were reportedly set up with shipwreck props<\/a>, suggesting scenes of disaster and survival.<\/p>\n Findlater Castle is located on a rocky cliff about 50 feet above the Moray Firth.rpeters86 – Getty Images<\/p>\n Additional filming took place in Burghead, a historic coastal village with an ancient fort, and in the sand dunes and woodlands of Culbin Forest. The crew also used Buckie harbor, where Draken Harald H\u00e5rfagre, the largest Viking ship built in modern times, was docked for filming<\/a>.<\/p>\n Iceland<\/p>\n Landeyjah\u00f6fn, Highlands, Glacier Regions<\/p>\n Nolan made a return trip to Iceland, where he filmed Batman Begins and Interstellar. This time, the Highlands and glacier-covered regions played host to some of the film’s otherworldly moments, according to travel magazine Stuck in Iceland<\/a>. The publication also reported that a large ship set, likely representing Odysseus’s vessel, was built near the coastal harbor of Landeyjah\u00f6fn.<\/p>\n The Odyssey’s exact filming location in the Icelandic Highlands is unconfirmed, but the Sig\u00f6lduglj\u00fafur canyon offers a look at the region’s stunning terrain.Chiara Guarascio – Getty Images<\/p>\n Picture glacial ice, black sand, and vast open spaces shaping surreal scenes where sirens and other mythical creatures might just pop up.<\/p>\n Morocco<\/p>\n Marrakech, Tahannaout, A\u00eft Benhaddou, and more<\/p>\n Morocco’s mix of desert dunes and fortified cities has made it a popular choice for filmmakers. For The Odyssey, scenes were shot in Marrakech, Tahannaout, El Haouz, and Essaouira, BBC’s<\/a> Countryfile<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n A\u00eft Benhaddou is a highlight among the locations. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed ksar in Ouarzazate province is rumored to represent the ancient city of Troy. Its mud-brick buildings and wide desert views are sure to offer a convincing backdrop for big battle scenes and ancient worlds.<\/p>\n Watch the trailer for The Odyssey below.<\/p>\n You Might Also Like<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"“Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links.” Christopher Nolan has…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":575165,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[50678,93,242629,360,61,60,98032,242630,270,109312,83194],"class_list":["post-575164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-movies","tag-christopher-nolan","tag-entertainment","tag-findlater-castle","tag-getty-images","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-matt-damon","tag-methoni-castle","tag-movies","tag-odysseus","tag-the-odyssey"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/575164","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=575164"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/575164\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/575165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=575164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=575164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=575164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/elle_decor_817\/3d113bf428c6f72b5258ff0d0cefdfe5.jpeg\"\/)
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<\/p>\n![\"Findlater](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/elle_decor_817\/c7420c5d7695e3ca81017dd67ceaaacd.jpeg\"\/)
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