Praise the Gods! Greek PM thanks Nolan for the 'The Odyssey' spotlight

ADVERTISEMENT Filtered By: Topstories News Published July 29, 2026 5:22am + Add GMA on Google Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google. A man fishes as a replica of an ancient warship is seen in the background, during the filming of The Odyssey, the latest project from director Christopher Nolan, in the town of Pylos, Greece, March 16, 2025. REUTERS/ Louisa Gouliamaki/File photo ATHENS, Greece - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has thanked filmmaker Christopher Nolan for putting a modern spotlight on Ancient Greece with his hit movie "The Odyssey", his office said Tuesday.

Mitsotakis congratulated the British director in a teleconference on Monday on the success of the movie that has renewed international interest in Homer's ancient epic."The Odyssey", which follows Greek hero Odysseus on his long journey home after the Trojan War, stars Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway as Odysseus and Penelope, with Tom Holland portraying their son Telemachus.It has topped the US box office for two straight weeks and already taken $640 million worldwide.

Other Stories Greece to ban social media for minors under 15, PM says 'Tragic human error' caused Greece's worst train crash — PM In Athens, thousands rally against COVID-19 vaccinations Mitsotakis thanked Nolan for the film's contribution to "boosting global interest in ancient Greek civilization," according to a statement from the prime minister's office."Such productions bridge Greece’s rich cultural heritage with contemporary creativity," Mitsotakis said.While packing cinemas around the world, "The Odyssey" has generated public debate and criticism.

Spotify has reported a surge of interest in audiobook translations of "The Odyssey", with Gen Z and millennials leading the demand.But tech titan Elon Musk has taken to X on multiple occasions to criticize the film, which in his opinion "desecrated" the story. Months before its release, the world's wealthiest man led criticism of Nolan for casting black actress Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy and transgender actor Elliot Page, who plays the Greek warrior Sinon.

In Greece, there has been criticism over the lack of Greek actors in the film, beyond extras.Mitsotakis, however, congratulated Nolan on the film's "great box office success" and expressed appreciation that a significant part of the production was filmed in Greece.Several scenes were shot in Messenia and Corinth in the Peloponnese region of southern Greece.

The Peloponnese was the heartland of the Bronze Age civilization in Homer's epic. — Agence France-Presse Tags: The Odyssey, Greece, Christopher Nolan More Videos Most Popular LOADING CONTENT LOAD MORE ARTICLES RETRY LOADING