Renowned filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s upcoming major movie is scheduled for release on July 17, 2026, and is already generating significant attention and controversy. Known for successful films like “Oppenheimer” and “Inception,” Nolan is currently working on a cinematic adaptation of Homer’s epic tale “The Odyssey,” featuring a star-studded cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, and Charlize Theron.
The $250-million production has garnered immense interest, with tickets for IMAX 70mm screenings completely selling out a year ahead of its release date. Notably, this project marks the first time a commercial film has been entirely shot using IMAX cameras.
Despite the excitement surrounding the film, Nolan and “The Odyssey” are facing criticism for filming scenes in Western Sahara, a territory that Morocco has occupied for the past five decades. Human rights groups have raised concerns about Morocco’s actions in the region, citing restrictions on freedom of the press, dissent, and access for foreign journalists and observers.
Calls to halt production in Western Sahara have been led by the organizers of the Western Sahara International Film Festival (FiSahara), who argue that Morocco’s presence in the region subjects the indigenous Sahrawi people to harsh treatment and perpetuates the occupation of what is often referred to as “Africa’s last colony.”
FiSahara has expressed disappointment that Nolan and his team may be unintentionally contributing to the repression of the Sahrawi people by filming in the disputed territory. The controversy has escalated as reports emerged of Nolan and actors like Damon and Zendaya shooting scenes in Dakhla, a city in Western Sahara.
Organizations like Amnesty International and the UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights have raised concerns about human rights violations in Western Sahara, including instances of violence and discrimination against the Sahrawi population. Despite mounting pressure, neither Nolan nor the film studio, Universal Pictures, have publicly addressed the calls to relocate the production.
The history of Western Sahara is marked by conflict, with Morocco annexing the territory in 1975 following the end of Spanish colonial rule and a subsequent war with the Polisario Front seeking independence. The region remains sparsely populated, with a significant Sahrawi refugee population in Algeria, where tensions between Morocco and the Polisario Front persist.
While filming in various locations is common in the film industry, the choice to shoot in Western Sahara has drawn criticism due to the political sensitivities and human rights concerns surrounding the region. Filmmakers like Nolan are urged to consider the implications of their filming locations and the impact on local populations, especially in territories with complex geopolitical histories like Western Sahara.