Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ To Film Cyclops Puppet in Nestor’s Cave

DGIX

February 11, 2025

No stranger to pushing the boundaries of filmmaking, Christopher Nolan might be making his most ambitious production yet with The Odyssey. The mythological epic based on Homer’s classic poem will see a stacked cast of actors fill up IMAX screens in theaters across the globe in 2026. To pull it off, Nolan will be digging deep into his playbook, and that includes filming on real locations and using practical effects and sets. However, he’s going one step further, as The Odyssey will go above and beyond to adapt the Cyclops scene from the original poem.

According to the @NolanAnalyst on X, Nolan will be seemingly not using CGI to bring the Cyclops from Homer’s Odyssey to the big screen. Filming in IMAX, Nolan will be putting a 6-meter-tall practical puppet Cyclops inside a cave for a scene. However, it’s not just any cave, as the production will be using Nestor’s Cave, in Messenia, Greece, to film the sequence. The location not only has mythological implications, but its historical significance means The Odyseey will have to be extra careful not to damage the cave. The new report claims that safety measures are being taken to preserve the natural state of the cave.

“A 6x6m mechanical anthropomorphic puppet will be built inside Nestor’s Cave. The installation will be temporary, fully reversible, and constructed with portable materials to avoid any damage to the site. Special precautions, like geotextile and sand layers, will be used to protect the cave.”

Most blockbusters would likely have used CGI to bring a sequence like this to life, especially considering it takes place in a real location. And rightfully so, as potentially damaging what could be considered a historical monument would be wreckless in some cases, and straight-up dangerous in others. However, since this is Nolan, a pioneer in pushing practical effects on the biggest scale imaginable, The Odyssey could very well pull off the most ambitious stunt in any of his productions thus far.

‘The Odyssey’ Will Film in Greece Using Mostly In-Camera Effects

For all intents and purposes, Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey will likely serve as the quintessential adaptation of the ancient Greek poem. Several chapters of the story have been adapted on the big screen, including Ralph Fiennes’ The Return, which covers the last part of the narrative. However, Nolan’s endeavor seems the most complete one yet, as he will presumably adapt all the story in one movie but also film in many ancient and iconic Greek locales. The NolanAnalyst also reports that the production crew will be creating an entire village and deploying fire effects on Almirolaka Beach.

“A makeshift village will be built using environmentally friendly materials. The structures will be temporary and securely installed, with full site restoration afterward. Special fire-controlled effects will be used, handled by certified pyrotechnicians.”

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As more details begin to leak from the impending production of The Odyssey, it begs the question if fans will get their first look at Matt Damon and Tom Holland, among many other stars, in the film soon. Nolan’s productions are normally under tight security, set images tend to surface online one way or the other. This is especially true because he tends to shoot in practical locations instead of soundstages, making covering up his biggest set pieces often impossible.