Christopher Nolan shoots epic sea voyage for The Odyssey, viral TikTok video shows storm scene on huge ship set

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is releasing next year, and fans are already buzzing. In a TikTok video that's now gone viral, a user filmed part of The Odyssey filming right from their backyard. The footage shows a ship floating in a water tank encircled by towering green screens, hinting at the film’s ambitious blend of practical sets and visual effects.

Let’s unpack what the TikTok video shows and dive into everything we know so far.


The clip captures a ship set built over a water tank. Surrounding green screens suggest heavy VFX integration, typical of Natak-scale scenes like stormy seas or mythical adversaries.

You can spot actors and crew around the vessel, hinting at filming practical sequences before CGI effects are added. Though brief, the clip offers a rare, up-close glimpse at the production, teasing the scale and artistry behind the mythical epic.

When is Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey releasing?

The Odyssey is scheduled to debut in U.S. theatres on July 17, 2026, distributed by Universal Pictures. Nolan's first full-length adaptation of Homer’s epic is already building massive anticipation, with IMAX tickets selling out globally.


The Odyssey global release date is yet to be announced, but it is expected to hit theatres on July 17, 2026.


The film features a star-studded cast, including:

• Matt Damon as Odysseus
• Tom Holland as Telemachus
• Anne Hathaway as Penelope
• Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Elliot Page, John Leguizamo, Benny Safdie, and more.

Christopher Nolan’s adaptation follows Odysseus’s ten-year journey home after the fall of Troy. Expect iconic mythological encounters: the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens, Circe, and Poseidon’s wrath. The story weaves in Telemachus’s search for his father and Penelope’s struggle in Ithaca. Nolan reportedly keeps the famously non-linear structure of the original poem.


The Odyssey filming began in February 2025 across global locations, from Morocco’s desert and Sicily’s coast to Greece, Scotland, and Iceland. The entire film is shot on IMAX 70mm film cameras, making it Nolan’s most expensive and ambitious project ($250 million budget).


Production has drawn controversy due to shoots in Dakhla, a contested Western Sahara region. Critics argue that this unintended involvement could normalise occupation.

The Odyssey promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime cinematic event, from its star-studded cast and epic filming locations to Christopher Nolan’s insistence on immersive IMAX visuals. And now, thanks to a chance backyard shot, fans got a small behind-the-scenes moment they won't forget.