Odyssey Studio Responds To Damaged Replica Boat Claims

The production company behind The Odyssey has responded to claims that the film’s crew damaged a replica of a Viking boat during filming, without paying for the damage.

Earlier this week, the chair of the Vikingaleden association in western Sweden told The Guardian the organisation had given permission for one of its boats to be used during the making of Christopher Nolan’s film.

A year later, they have said they invoiced Universal for $6000 (around £4500) for repairs after it was damaged during the infamously-gruelling shoot, but have still not received a payment.

“We are only charging for the material cost, not the labour. Of course Universal can afford this $6,000. We feel forgotten,” they said, adding: “The agreement was that we would fix it and get financially reimbursed.”

A Universal spokesperson said in response: “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.”

The boat in question was used in several sequences in The Odyssey, an adaptation of Homer’s Ancient Greek tome.

While promoting the film, director Christopher Nolan has opened up on numerous occasions about his preference for on-location shooting and practical effects, rather than green-screen technology and CGI, as much as possible.

He told Empire magazine last year: “By embracing the physicality of the real world in the making of the film, you do inform the telling of the story in interesting ways. Because you’re confronted on a daily basis by the world pushing back at you.”

More recently, Nolan has spoken candidly about the “terrifying” feat of bringing the film’s cyclops character to life without relying on computer wizardry, while the cast have voiced their own disbelief over one particular sequence that they were shocked to learn doesn’t feature any CGI.

The Odyssey is now in cinemas.