Christopher Nolan’s latest epic production, The Odyssey, brought Hollywood star Matt Damon to Greece. Filming is underway for the highly anticipated adaptation of Homer’s legendary epic poem in Greece with the production already working hard for the much-anticipated film.
With a star-covered cast and a whopping $250 million production budget, this ambitious cinematic project is expected to be one of the most talked-about films of recent years.
Matt Damon in Greece to begin filming
Matt Damon, who will star in the new film as Odysseus, arrived in Greece a few days ago to film key scenes for the new film and was caught on camera leaving the country on Thursday. The production is making use of iconic locations across Greece, including the Methoni Castle, the Voidokilia Beach in Messenia, and the archaeological site of Acrocorinth in the Peloponnese. These sites will be the backdrop for the perilous journey home of Odysseus following the end of the Trojan War.
Matt Damon arrived at Greece for ‘The Odyssey’ filming. pic.twitter.com/2yTXvMsH0q
— hourly matt damon (@damonfolders) March 6, 2025
Photos captured at Athens’ International Airport show Damon casually dressed in jeans and a hoodie as he waited for his flight to depart. According to Greek news website Proto Thema, Damon has already taken part in the filming of some scenes and is expected to come back to Greece again to continue filming more. Meanwhile, casting calls for extras have drawn significant attention in Kalamata and other nearby towns of southern Greece.
Nolan’s The Odyssey promises to be a visually stunning “sword-and-sandals” epic that stays true to its ancient Greek roots. The film follows Odysseus as he faces mythical challenges—including encounters with the Cyclops Polyphemus, Sirens and Circe—on his decade-long voyage back to Ithaca. Alongside Damon, the cast includes Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Zendaya as Athena, Charlize Theron as Calypso and Robert Pattinson as Poseidon.
Filming began earlier this year across multiple international locations such as Morocco and Italy before moving to Greece. The production is expected to boost Greece’s global tourist profile as a prime destination for both filmmaking and relaxation, as the country is aiming at attracting foreign productions in the last few years.
Scheduled for release in the summer of 2026, The Odyssey is expected to be Nolan’s most expensive project yet. With its breathtaking settings across the Mediterranean and beautiful plot, this adaptation of Homer’s classic epic tale hopes to captivate audiences worldwide.
Historically inaccurate?
However, the first image that was released recently of the upcoming production, sparked debate over its historical accuracy. Critics argued that Odysseus should wear a Mycenaean boar’s tusk helmet, as described in The Iliad. In Book 10, Homer mentions Odysseus borrowing such a helmet from Meriones for a nighttime raid. However, this is not Odysseus’ standard helmet in the epic.
In Nolan’s adaptation, Matt Damon’s Odysseus wears a red-plumed helmet resembling later Greek designs. While visually impressive, this choice is slightly away from both Mycenaean and Homeric descriptions.
Related: Is Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey Using Historically Accurate Greek Warrior Attire?
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