Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey will partially be filmed in Sicily, where scholars say Homer based a portion of Ulysses’ journey in his 8th century BCE epic.
The Oppenheimer director, 54, will adapt the mythical tale following the king of Ithaca as he journeys home after the Trojan War with an all-star cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya and Robert Pattinson.
Nolan’s Odyssey will reportedly start filming in Sicily in roughly two months on the island of Favignana, known as “goat island” per Variety.
Favignana is understood to be the place where Homer wrote that Ulysses and his crew landed, collected food, and barbecued goats in the tale. It is part of the Egadi archipelago off of Sicily’s north-west coast.
The publication reports that Nolan, who is shooting The Odyssey on new IMAX film technology, is likely to film part of the movie on Sicily’s Eolian island. Other locations will include the U.K and Morocco.
The directors mythic action epic will also star Lupita Nyong’o, Anne Hathaway and Charlize Theron alongside Pattison, Holland, Damon and Zendaya.
“The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026,” Universal Studios announced in a statement.
Earlier this year, Nolan’s longtime producer and wife Emma Thomas teased the forthcoming feature in an interview with Empire.
“I would say it’s very exciting,” she said. “This is the moment where the possibilities are sort of limitless, we haven’t started thinking practicalities, or anything.”
“Oppenheimer was so absurdly successful and we feel like we have an opportunity,” Thomas added.
In a recent interview, Holland confirmed he was taking part in the project – and admitted he had no idea what the film was about when he said accepted the job.
“All I can say is that I’m incredibly excited,” Holland said on Good Morning America in October. “And obviously honoured, but that’s all I can say because, to be honest, that’s all I know.”
Asked whether he would accept an offer from Nolan “sight unseen”, Holland said: “Hundred per cent without a shadow of a doubt.
“When the opportunity came in, it was the phone call of a lifetime. It was reminiscent of getting the call about Spider-Man 10 years ago. It’s an amazing thing for me. I’m super proud and I’m really, really excited.”
