Christopher Nolan’s ‘Odyssey’ Shoots In Disputed African Territory: What To Know

Key Facts

Chief Critics

In the Western Sahara International Film Festival’s statement, executive director María Carrión urged Nolan to “stop filming in Dakhla and stand in solidarity with the indigenous Sahrawis who have been under military occupation for 50 years.” Carrión said indigenous Sahrawis are “unable to make their own films about their stories under occupation” because of the threat of “persecution” by the Moroccan government. Mamine Hachimi, a Sahrawi activist who co-directed “3 Stolen Cameras,” a documentary about media censorship in Western Sahara, told Middle East Eye the production is an “act of cultural complicity” and filming in the territory “without the consent of the Sahrawi people becomes part of that system of repression.” The Ministry of Culture of the Polisario Front, the armed Sahrawi group that claims the Western Sahara territory, said in a statement shooting a major Hollywood production in Dakhla is a “violation of international law and of the ethical standards governing cultural and artistic work,” declaring its “unequivocal rejection of the decision to select an occupied territory as the location for a major international film production.” Adala UK, a United Kingdom-based non-governmental organization that advocates for human rights in Western Sahara, sent a letter to the British government expressing “profound concern” that the project, which is backed by Nolan’s British film production company, is shooting in Dakhla, which the group says will “legitimize” Morocco’s occupation.

Contra

Reda Benjelloun, who leads the Moroccan Cinematographic Center, a Moroccan agency that supports its film industry, told a local outlet last week Nolan’s production is “extremely important” for Morocco, noting “The Odyssey” is the first major Hollywood production to choose to film in the territory.

What Do We Know About The Western Sahara Territorial Dispute?

Western Sahara was previously a Spanish colony, but Morocco annexed the territory in 1975 after Spain relinquished its claim. The annexation came after the International Court of Justice ruled Morocco did not have sovereignty over the area, and the United Nations does not officially recognize its claim and instead classifies Western Sahara as a non-self governing territory. Morocco occupies much of the territory, while a smaller fraction is controlled by the Polisario Front’s declared government, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The SADR is a member of the African Union and is recognized by more than 40 UN member states. Some human rights groups have accused Morocco of human rights abuses in Western Sahara. Amnesty International says the Moroccan government targets “journalists, activists and government critics through prosecution and surveillance,” and in a report last year, the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights documented receiving “allegations relating to human rights violations, including intimidation, surveillance and discrimination against Sahrawi individuals particularly when advocating for self-determination.”

What Do We Know About “the Odyssey?”

“The Odyssey” is an adaptation of Homer’s poem of the same title, according to Universal Pictures, and the movie is planned to release in theaters on July 17, 2026. Nolan is directing the project and wrote the screenplay. The movie stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, and the supporting cast features Oscar winners Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron and Lupita Nyong’o, as well as Tom Holland, Zendaya and Robert Pattinson. “The Odyssey” reportedly carries a $250 million budget, making it Nolan’s most expensive film to date. The movie is reportedly the first big blockbuster to be shot on IMAX film cameras, as the company developed new camera technology specifically for the film. “The Odyssey” is Nolan’s first film since “Oppenheimer,” which famously opened in theaters alongside “Barbie” in 2023 and won a leading seven Oscars in March 2024. Nolan won his first two Academy Awards for the movie, taking home Best Picture and Best Director.

Tangent

Nolan made about $72 million in pre-tax earnings from “Oppenheimer,” Forbes estimated in 2024. Forbes estimated Nolan made about 15% of the movie’s first-dollar gross, meaning he made a share of the movie’s earnings from the box office and licensing before the studio made its money back. “Oppenheimer” grossed $975 million at the global box office, according to Box Office Mojo.

Further Reading

Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Wades Into African Territorial Dispute (Bloomberg)

Here’s How Much Christopher Nolan Made On ‘Oppenheimer’ (Forbes)