Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey Makers Accused Of Not Paying For Damaged Viking Ship

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is breaking box office records across the world. The film is even nearing the Rs 100-crore mark in India. However, amid the success, it has landed in an unexpected controversy. The owners of a Viking ship used during the shoot have now accused the makers of leaving them with a repair bill they say is still unpaid.

According to The Guardian, the controversy involves Glad av Gillberga, a Viking longship replica owned by the non-profit Vikingaleden association. The ship was reportedly used in The Odyssey as an ancient Greek warship during filming.

The association’s chairman, Peter Olausson, said they were excited to see their ship become part of a Christopher Nolan film. But that excitement didn’t last long. He claimed

the vessel was returned damaged and that Universal Pictures never reimbursed them for the repair costs.

“We are only charging for the material cost, not the labour. Of course, Universal can afford this $6,000. We feel forgotten,” Olausson told The Guardian.

He further claimed that the understanding was clear from the beginning that the association would repair the ship first and later be paid back. “The agreement was that we would fix it and get financially reimbursed,” he added.

The ship has since been repaired and is back in use, but the association says it is still waiting to receive the money it believes it is owed. More than a year has passed since the filming took place.

Universal Pictures, however, has denied the allegations. In a statement to The Guardian, a spokesperson said, “Our records show that all invoices relating to the Glad av Gillberga were paid in full, including repairs. The studio and the production have contacted the association to clear up any misunderstanding.”

Interestingly, all this comes at a time when The Odyssey is minting money at the box office. Made on a reported budget of $250 million, the film opened to $264 million worldwide and has already added over $100 million more, putting it close to the $400 million mark.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is breaking box office records across the world, but behind all the success, the film has landed in an unexpected controversy. The owners of a Viking ship used during the shoot have now accused the makers of leaving them with a repair bill they say is still unpaid.

According to The Guardian, the controversy involves Glad av Gillberga, a Viking longship replica owned by the non-profit Vikingaleden association. The ship was reportedly used in The Odyssey as an ancient Greek warship during filming.

The association’s chairman, Peter Olausson, said they were excited to see their ship become part of a Christopher Nolan film. But that excitement didn’t last long. He claimed the vessel was returned damaged and that Universal Pictures never reimbursed them for the repair costs.

“We are only charging for the material cost, not the labour. Of course, Universal can afford this $6,000. We feel forgotten,” Olausson told The Guardian.

He further claimed that the understanding was clear from the beginning—that the association would repair the ship first and later be paid back.

“The agreement was that we would fix it and get financially reimbursed,” he added.

The ship has since been repaired and is back in use, but the association says it is still waiting to receive the money it believes it is owed. More than a year has passed since the filming took place.

Universal Pictures, however, has denied the allegations. In a statement to The Guardian, a spokesperson said, “Our records show that all invoices relating to the Glad av Gillberga were paid in full, including repairs. The studio and the production have contacted the association to clear up any misunderstanding.”

Interestingly, all this comes at a time when The Odyssey is minting money at the box office. Made on a reported budget of $250 million, the film opened to $264 million worldwide and has already added over $100 million more, putting it close to the $400 million mark.

The Odyssey is a 2026 epic fantasy action film written and directed by Christopher Nolan. Based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem, the film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, whose decade-long journey home after the Trojan War is filled with mythical creatures, dangerous challenges and emotional reunions. Anne Hathaway plays his wife, Penelope, while the ensemble cast also features Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Samantha Morton, Zendaya and Charlize Theron. The film is produced by Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas under their banner, Syncopy.