Director Christopher Nolan chose the rugged coastlines of Scotland to serve as the mythic settings for his adaptation of Homer's "The Odyssey".

The decision to use these landscapes allows the production to capture the epic scale of the ancient story while filming entirely in IMAX. By leveraging natural, untouched scenery, Nolan aims to enhance the visual impact of the journey without relying heavily on artificial environments.

Filming took place across six countries [1] during a production schedule spanning 2025 and 2026. In Scotland, the crew focused on the northern coastline, utilizing remote beaches, towering dunes, and a castle perched on a cliff to stand in for the Mediterranean world of the poem [2].

CNN producer Sandy Thin documented the locations and said the wild coastal terrain provided a natural backdrop for the film's sequences [2]. The production budget for the adaptation reached $250 million [3].

Nolan's approach to the project emphasizes a commitment to large-format cinematography. The use of Scotland's dramatic geography ensures that the physical environment matches the narrative's scale, a hallmark of Nolan's previous works.

The film is slated to open in theaters on July 17, 2026 [3].

“Nolan chose Scotland’s wild coastal and dune landscapes to stand in for the mythic settings of Homer's "The Odyssey".”

Nolan's choice of Scotland over traditional Mediterranean locations reflects a preference for atmospheric scale and geological drama over literal geographical accuracy. By utilizing IMAX cameras in these remote environments, the production seeks to translate the internal and external vastness of Homer's epic into a tangible, cinematic experience that emphasizes the isolation of the protagonist.