The owner of a Viking longship replica used in the Christopher Nolan film The Odyssey has accused Universal Pictures of failing to pay a $6,000 repair bill after the vessel was returned with damage. The Swedish nonprofit Vikingaleden association says it loaned its ship Glad av Gillberga to the production and has been waiting over a year for reimbursement, while the studio denies the claim and says all invoices were paid in full.
The Dispute Over the Viking Ship
The disagreement centres on the Glad av Gillberga, a 17.5-metre-long Viking longship replica owned by the Vikingaleden association, a nonprofit organisation based in Värmland, western Sweden. The association owns several Viking longship replicas and loaned the warship to the production of The Odyssey.
According to Peter Olausson, chair of the Vikingaleden association, the ship spent about six months with the production team. When it was returned, it had sustained damage to multiple areas including the stern, the mast, and sections of the woodwork. The damage reportedly included patches of damaged paint, damaged mast fittings, a crack in the hull, and parts of the support frame that needed replacement.
Olausson said the association carried out the repairs using volunteer labour and only asked for reimbursement for the cost of materials. The total bill came to roughly $6,000.
The ship has since been repaired and is back in service, but the association says it is still waiting for payment. Olausson told The Guardian that more than a year has passed since the ship was used during filming.
‘We Feel Forgotten’
Olausson expressed frustration over the situation, saying the association initially felt proud to see their ship featured in a Christopher Nolan film, but that feeling has been overshadowed by the payment dispute.
“We are only charging for the material cost, not the labour. Of course, Universal can afford this $6,000. We feel forgotten.”
He said the agreement with the production was clear from the start. The association would repair any damage and then get reimbursed for the costs.
“The agreement was that we would fix it and get financially reimbursed.”
Olausson noted that while $6,000 is a small amount for a major Hollywood studio, it is significant for the 200-member association that runs the Viking village and museum. He also said the repairs delayed the vessel’s return to service by around two months, which meant the association could not take bookings from schools, companies, and community groups during part of the summer.
Universal Pictures Responds
Universal Pictures has strongly denied the allegation. A spokesperson for the studio told The Guardian that the company’s records show all payments were made.
“Our records show that all invoices relating to the Glad av Gillberga were paid in full, including repairs. The studio and the production have contacted the association to clear up any misunderstanding.”
The studio has not provided further details about what payments were made or when. Both sides appear to be in contact, with Universal describing the situation as a “misunderstanding”.
How the Ship Was Used in The Odyssey
The Glad av Gillberga was built in the 1990s using traditional methods and is a replica of an 11th-century Viking ship discovered in Denmark’s Roskilde Fjord. It has sailed the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, and even crossed the Atlantic to Canada.
In The Odyssey, the ship was used as one of the escort vessels in Odysseus’s fleet. The main ship representing Odysseus’s vessel was the 35-metre-long Norwegian replica Draken Harald Hårfagre.
The production contacted Vikingaleden in late 2024 about a project called “Charlie’s Tale,” which turned out to be The Odyssey. The Swedish captain of the main ship, Björn Ahlander, said life on the ships during six months of filming around Greek and Italian islands was tough.
“We rebuilt the ship into an ancient Greek ship. We removed the tents and all the modern things and had an open deck that we lived on during this time. It was quite tough.”
The Odyssey’s Box Office Success
The dispute comes as The Odyssey enjoys major commercial success. The film, which reportedly cost $250 million to make, earned $264 million worldwide during its opening weekend. It has since added over $100 million globally, putting it close to the $400 million mark.
Based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem, The Odyssey stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, alongside an ensemble cast including Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Samantha Morton, and Jon Bernthal. The film was released on July 17.
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What Happens Next
The disagreement remains unresolved publicly. Vikingaleden continues to say the reimbursement has not been received, while Universal insists its financial obligations were fulfilled. Neither side has suggested legal action, and discussions appear to be continuing.
Olausson said he still enjoyed watching The Odyssey in the cinema and spotted the Glad av Gillberga about 10 times on screen in the early scenes of Odysseus’s fleet leaving Troy. He described the film as “fantastic”.
“Of course, you can’t see any real detail but for me it was, ‘Ah, there’s Glad. There’s my ship.’”
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