Director Christopher Nolan is known for doing things the hard way. Instead of using computer-generated images for his new movie ‘The Odyssey’, he chose a real Viking longship to carry Matt Damon and the cast across the open sea. The only catch? The ship comes from a time period about 2,000 years after the story of Odysseus.
The eras of Homer’s epic poem and the Vikings are separated by roughly two millennia. Yet a Viking longship plays a starring role in this year’s blockbuster. The answer lies in Nolan’s dedication to practical filmmaking and a team of Norwegian shipwrights who built a vessel that works for both history and Hollywood.
The Ship That Crossed the Atlantic Before Becoming a Movie Star
The vessel in question is the Draken Harald Hårfagre, the largest modern replica of a Viking ship in existence. Built in Stavanger, Norway, this 115-foot-long wooden ship features tar-soaked rigging, a creaking oak deck, and 50 spruce oars. It had already crossed the Atlantic Ocean twice before being cast in Nolan’s film.
For the movie, the production team had to strip the dragon figurehead from the ship’s bow. That dragon head is a signature feature of Viking era vessels from the 8th to 11th centuries. The ship then sailed through Greek, Italian, and Scottish waters while cameras rolled.
Nolan explained his choice to US television last month. He said the ship’s shape and rigging matched what they needed for a Bronze Age vessel.
Why Nolan Picked a Viking Ship Over a Greek Trireme
Instead of using computer-generated effects, Nolan wanted a real ship that could actually sail on the open ocean with real people aboard.
Emanuel Persson, expedition director for Draken, said the authenticity makes a difference.
“Most of the scenes would be completely different if it wasn’t for us being there, doing the real thing with the real ship and the real crew in the real ocean and real weather. I think the viewers can actually feel the genuine materials. I don’t know if you can really smell the tar, but you can tell it’s really genuine handicraft instead of being a digital creation.”
Nolan brought the ship’s crew into the production. They wore costumes and became part of the movie team. The actors playing Odysseus’s men learned alongside them how to raise the sail, rig the lines, and row in sync.
Related: Christopher Nolan Calls ‘The Odyssey’ His Toughest Film Yet, Explains Why
Life on Board with Matt Damon and the Cast
For months, the experienced sailors worked alongside Hollywood star Matt Damon, who plays Odysseus, and other professional actors.
Bjorn Ahlander, the longship captain, had nothing but praise for Damon and the cast.
“Matt Damon was very nice and very good. Never complained. Every one of the actors was out for a long time and it was very cold and sometimes rough. No complaints, nothing, never. So that was fantastic to see.”
Rowing the ship required serious coordination. Trammell Hudson, one of the sailors, explained that the hundred rowers had to work together perfectly because the long oars would tangle if they fell out of rhythm. He recalled being thrown “a metre-and-a-half into the air” when his oar hit a wave head-on.
Hudson also shared a funny moment from the shoot. One day, an actor in front of him got seasick and threw up over the rail. The wind blew it back onto Hudson. He thought it would be his big scene because the IMAX camera was focused on that area. But he never saw that moment in the finished film.
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The Controversy Over Unpaid Repairs
While the movie performs well at the box office, a dispute has surfaced involving a different Viking ship used in the production.
The Vikingaleden association, a Swedish nonprofit that owns several Viking longship replicas, loaned their vessel Glad av Gillberga to the production team. The ship was used as a stand-in for an ancient Greek warship during filming.
Peter Olausson, chairman of the Vikingaleden association, said the group was proud to see their ship in a Christopher Nolan film. But that feeling changed when the vessel came back damaged.
“We are only charging for the material cost, not the labour. Of course, Universal can afford this $6,000. We feel forgotten.”
Olausson claimed the agreement was clear from the start. The association would fix the ship and then get reimbursed. More than a year has passed since filming took place, and the association says it is still waiting for the money.
Universal Pictures has denied the allegations. A studio spokesperson told The Guardian that their records show all invoices for the Glad av Gillberga were paid in full, including repairs. The studio said they have contacted the association to clear up any misunderstanding.
The dispute comes as ‘The Odyssey’ continues its strong run in theaters. The film, made on a reported budget of $250 million, opened to $264 million worldwide and has grossed close to $400 million globally.
Based on Homer’s epic poem, ‘The Odyssey’ retraces the journey of the hero Odysseus as he tries to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War in the 12th century BCE. The film features an ensemble cast including Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Samantha Morton, and Jon Bernthal.
The movie has drawn mixed reactions online, with some viewers pointing out the historical inaccuracy of using a Viking ship for a Greek story. But Nolan’s commitment to practical effects and real-world authenticity continues to be a major talking point for audiences around the world.
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