*Courtesy of Aalok Soni/Getty Images for Universal Pictures*.

Christopher Nolan may have found some reassurance this week after a cordial video call with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, just days after renowned classicist Emily Wilson delivered a blistering critique of his blockbuster adaptation of Homer’s ‘The Odyssey.’

According to a Greek-language statement released by the prime minister’s office, Mitsotakis congratulated the British filmmaker for bringing Homer’s epic poem to the screen and thanked him for helping generate renewed global interest in ancient Greek culture. He said productions such as ‘The Odyssey’ connect Greece’s rich cultural heritage with contemporary creativity, while also praising the film’s box-office performance and Nolan’s decision to shoot a significant portion of the movie in Greece.

The conversation took place one day after Wilson, whose acclaimed 2017 translation of ‘The Odyssey’ was cited as an influence on Nolan, published a scathing review in the London Review of Books. Wilson declared that she “would be ashamed to have written any part of the script.”

Filming on the $250 million production took place over three months in Greece’s Peloponnese region during spring 2025. Locations included Nestor’s Cave, Voidokilia Beach, Almyrolaka Beach, Methoni Castle and Acrocorinth.

The production also received €6.4 million ($7.2 million) through Greece’s 40% film cash-rebate programme. The country’s Ministry of Culture assisted the filmmakers in securing access to historic sites while overseeing their protection and preservation throughout the shoot.

Despite some early criticism regarding the absence of Greek actors in the cast, ‘The Odyssey’ has received a broadly positive response in Greece. Many locals have welcomed the film’s role in reviving interest in classical Greek literature, culture and language.

As of July 29, the film had recorded 408,758 admissions across approximately 300 Greek cinemas in two weeks. Its closest box-office competitor, ‘Toy Story 5,’ had generated 252,640 admissions after six weeks in theatres.

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