Viking Ship for Nolan's 'Odyssey' Damaged, Studio Refuses to Pay

The filming of Christopher Nolan's new epic "The Odyssey" has been hit by a scandal: the Swedish non-profit association Värmland Vikingaleden claims that the Viking ship Glad av Gillberga, rented for the movie, was damaged, and Universal Studios refuses to cover the repair costs.

Association chairman Peter Olausson told reporters that the studio paid only the rental fee, not the costs for wear and tear and repairs. He says the bill for restoration is just $6,000, a sum he calls "peanuts" compared to the film's box office earnings.

As a reminder, Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" had a spectacular opening weekend, grossing about $264.1 million. The film, based on Homer's poem, is already being hailed as one of the year's biggest blockbusters, with its visuals, including a replica Viking ship, drawing attention.

Olausson stresses he hopes it's a simple oversight, but admits that after several emails to Universal, there has been no response. The studio, for its part, claims that all invoices, including repairs, were paid in full and expresses readiness to clarify the situation with the association.

This is not the first time that renting props for major Hollywood productions has led to financial disputes. Usually, such conflicts are resolved amicably, but if the parties fail to reach an agreement, the matter could end up in court. For Nolan, known for his attention to detail, such a scandal could be an unpleasant blot on his reputation.

It remains unclear how the situation will be resolved, but fans of the director and audiences awaiting "The Odyssey" are likely following the developments. Hopefully, the studio and the association will reach a compromise, the Viking ship will be restored, and all claims will be dropped.