Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of “The Odyssey” will be partly filmed in Sicily which, according to scholars, was a location for Odysseus’ wanderings in the epic composed by Homer around 8th century BCE.
Shooting of the Sicilian portion of Nolan’s “Odyssey” is expected to start in roughly two months on the island of Favignana, known as “goat island,” which is believed to be the place where Homer envisioned Odysseus landed with his motley crew to barbecue goats and stock up on food. The idyllic isle is part of the Egadi archipelago off of Sicily’s north-west coast.
Nolan – who is shooting “The Odyssey” using brand new Imax film technology – is also likely to film some of the big-budget epic in Sicily’s Eolian islands, according to several sources. But the bulk of the mythical action movie’s Sicily shoot will be in Favignana. The film’s other announced locations are the U.K. and Morocco.
Italy’s Wildside, a Fremantle company, is servicing the Sicily shoot of “The Odyssey,” which Nolan is producing with Emma Thomas under their Syncopy banner for Universal Pictures. The Italian line-producer on “Odyssey” is Erik Paoletti. Wildside also recently handled physical production of Edward Berger’s “Conclave” in Rome.
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There was no comment from Wildside on Monday. Universal did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Confirmed cast for “The Odyssey” which, of course, is among seminal texts of Western literature, comprises Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson and Charlize Theron, though it has not been revealed who will play what role.
“The Odyssey” recounts the 10-year journey of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, as he travels home after the Trojan War. Along the way, he encounters multiple perils and discovers the death of his crewmates. Telemachus (Odysseus’ son), Penelope (Odysseus’ wife), Athena, Circe, Poseidon and Zeus are all major characters.