Christopher Nolan Refused To Fake 'The Odyssey' Filming Locations Across Six Countries

Epic filmmaking often tempts creators to rely on artificial sets or digital backdrops to recreate ancient worlds. However, Christopher Nolan has built his career on resisting that urge, opting for practical effects and real locations whenever possible.

In his latest adaptation of Homer’s ‘The Odyssey,’ this philosophy took the production to new heights, spanning six countries over a period of ninety-one days. The filming locations included Morocco, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Scotland, and the United States, utilizing a new seventy millimeter IMAX camera system to authentically portray the ancient narrative.

A recent post from the film account Lets Cinema highlighted the extensive travel undertaken by Nolan and his team to avoid green screens. The journey, which took place from February to August, featured a cast that includes Matt Damon as Odysseus, along with Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Robert Pattinson. Notably, Troy was brought to life in Morocco rather than on a soundstage.

91 days, 6 countries, and not a green screen in sight — because Christopher Nolan refuses to fake a horizon he can simply go out and film. Troy comes to life in Aït Benhaddou, Morocco, the ancient mudbrick city that also served as the backdrop for Gladiator and Lawrence of… pic.twitter.com/eMM4xv7yxk

— Lets Cinema (@letscinema) July 19, 2026

Nolan constructed his version of Troy in Aït Benhaddou, a fortified mudbrick village and UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its cinematic history, having represented ancient cities in films like ‘Gladiator’ and ‘Game of Thrones.’ Additional filming occurred around Essaouira and Marrakesh, making the location a fitting choice for the ancient world.

Greece, the ultimate destination for Odysseus, added its own mythic significance. Filming took place in Messinia in the Peloponnese, featuring locations like Voidokilia Beach and Nestor’s Cave, which was reportedly used for the Cyclops sequence with Polyphemus. The Methoni Castle and the ancient fortress site of Acrocorinth also made appearances.

Sicily played a crucial role in depicting Ithaca. The island of Favignana, known as Goat Island and believed by scholars to be where Odysseus rested and replenished supplies, anchored the Sicilian shoot, along with the Aeolian Islands. The Castello di Santa Caterina, overlooking Favignana, serves as Ithaca’s palace.

Scotland contributed unexpectedly to the European leg of the shoot. Odysseus’ encounter with the Laestrygonians was filmed in the pine woodland of Culbin Forest along the Moray Firth coast, a location Nolan previously used for a prologue in ‘The Dark Knight Rises.’ Actor John Leguizamo, part of the expansive cast, remarked on the scale of the production, likening the experience of working with Nolan to collaborating with Stanley Kubrick, a comment he shared with PEOPLE.

From the mudbrick walls of Aït Benhaddou to the mythic shores of the Peloponnese, ‘The Odyssey’ appears to be a blockbuster that truly earned its expansive scope. Which of these six countries would you be most excited to visit because of the film?