The Odyssey: A Journey of a Lifetime

The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan’s latest adaptation of Homer’s epic poem, is a cinematic masterpiece that has left audiences in awe. The film’s breathtaking locations, expertly chosen by production designer Ruth De Jong, are a testament to the power of filmmaking. In this article, we’ll take you on a journey to explore the diverse and stunning locations that brought The Odyssey to life.

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The Odyssey is set in two primary locations: Troy, present-day Turkey, and Greece, specifically the Greek islands. However, Nolan and De Jong looked beyond the expected locales and shot in Morocco, Iceland, and Scotland as well. De Jong, in an exclusive interview, revealed the process of scouting for locations that would bring Homer’s epic poem to life.

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‘We wanted to start in the Mediterranean and end in the Mediterranean,’ De Jong explained. ‘But Chris and I were not interested in an entire sun-bleached sort of vibe.’ Scouting took them all over the world, from Australian beaches to Japanese woodland, before they landed on the final locations, which were relatively proximate to each other.

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Greece: The Heart of The Odyssey

The Greek islands played a significant role in The Odyssey, with many scenes filmed in the Peloponnese region. The ancestral home of Odysseus, Nestor’s Cave, was a well-known site in the region. The hunting scene, where Telemachus visits Sparta, was shot at an olive grove in Messinia. The homecoming of Agamemnon was filmed outside at Methoni Castle in Messinia and outside Athens at the monolithic Acrocorinth.

‘That worked well, with the flags and the banners,’ De Jong said. ‘And Chris wanted to just make sure that it was so clear how windy our entire shoot was.’ The Greek islands provided the perfect backdrop for The Odyssey, with their picturesque landscapes and rich history.

Italy: The Island of Favignana

The island of Favignana, off the coast of Sicily, stood in for Ithaca in The Odyssey. De Jong had visited Favignana a decade ago and remembered its beauty while scouting. ‘We scouted the entire main island of Sicily,’ she said. ‘[But] it’s just too populated. There were a couple of places we really liked, but that paled in comparison to Santa Caterina, this 15th-century castle on the top of this hill.’ The castle provided the perfect setting for the palace of Penelope and Telemachus.

‘Chris and Emma [Thomas, Nolan’s producer and wife] hiked up every single day,’ De Jong revealed. ‘I always hiked up. All of our construction elements were brought up via helicopter, and any crew that needed to could use the helicopter.’ The interior palace on Ithaca was built on a stage in Los Angeles.

Iceland: The Land of Fire and Ice

Iceland was the only country Nolan knew he wanted to shoot in from the jump. ‘He said, ‘Ruth, I already know in my mind’s eye I want Hades to be Iceland, and I want it to be the black sand beaches and shoot in the middle of the summer, in a full daylight day. It never really got dark,’ De Jong explained.

The team passed by Diamond Beach and other heavily-touristed stretches of sand and in favor of more remote locations, such as the beach beside Hjörleifshöfði mountain three hours east of Reykjavik. ‘Interestingly enough, we found Apollo’s Beach with the cattle, and the white sand in Iceland too, but no one would ever know it was just six hours in the other direction [from the black sand] because it’s sun-bleached and has lush fields,’ De Jong said.

Morocco: The Village of Ait Benhadu

Troy was shot in a Moroccan village in the Atlas Mountains called Ait Benhadu. De Jong constructed practical sets up against the existing village of Ait Benhadu. ‘The village [allowed us to] triple the size of our Troy,’ she explained. ‘I built about two and a half acres of Troy, as sets, that we could burn, right up against the village.’ The team got permission to do the fire and the burning, and the men running through Troy was a testament to the power of their hard work.

‘Morocco was very hot and very tough,’ De Jong said, ‘but I was pleased with the outcome.’ The discovery site of the Trojan Horse was filmed on the beaches of Essaouira on the Atlantic coast.

Scotland: The Land of Lochs and Mountains

Odysseus would never have gone to Scotland, but that was irrelevant. The craggy Scottish coast provided the perfect backdrop for Circe’s home on a verdant cliffside. The team emulated those craggy rocks outside Cullen in the Highlands. ‘Circe’s house was really special,’ De Jong said. ‘We emulated those craggy rocks just outside Cullen in the Highlands. It had that feeling of being in the middle of nowhere.’

The Odyssey is a testament to the power of filmmaking and the creativity of its cast and crew. From the breathtaking locations to the expert production design, every detail has come together to create a cinematic masterpiece that will leave audiences in awe.