Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Faces Backlash Over Filming in Disputed Territory
The Odyssey may be facing controversy due to backlash over filming in a disputed territory. The movie is scheduled to be released next summer on July 17, 2026. The teaser trailer for the film is available to view in theatres only, although it was already leaked online.
The Odyssey Facing a Huge Filming Controversy
The film has seen epic ticket sales well ahead of its release. Director Christopher Nolan recently spent four days filming The Odyssey in the city of Dahkla. The city is the capital of the disputed territory of the Western Sahara, currently occupied by Morocco. It is the capital claimed by the Moroccan administrative region of Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab. The United Nations classifies the territory as “non-self governing.”
In the statement responding to the shoot of The Odyssey, “We are sure that were they to understand the full implications of filming such a high-profile film in a territory whose indigenous peoples are unable to make their own films about their stories under occupation, Nolan and his team would be horrified.”
FiSahara continued, “By filming part of The Odyssey in an occupied territory billed as a ‘news black hole’ by Reporters without Borders, Nolan and his team, perhaps unknowingly and unwillingly, are contributing to the repression of the Sahrawi people by Morocco, and to the Moroccan regime’s efforts to normalise its occupation of Western Sahara”, said FiSahara Executive Director María Carrión.”
Final Thoughts
Variety had requested a comment from Nolan and Representatives for Universal, the studio under which The Odyssey operates. However, they did not respond immediately for comment. The controversy raises ethical questions about Hollywood. Should filmmakers prioritize visual storytelling, or should they bear accountability and responsibility for the socio-political issues tied to their film locations? With The Odyssey coming next summer, this movie will be talked about long after the end credits roll.
