‘The Odyssey’ studio accused of leaving Viking ship owners unpaid after damage

Universal says all invoices were settled, while Swedish nonprofit insists reimbursement remains outstanding

A Swedish nonprofit behind a Viking ship replica featured in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has claimed it is still waiting to be reimbursed for repair costs after the vessel was allegedly returned with damage following months of filming. Universal Pictures, however, disputes the claim and says all invoices connected to the ship have already been paid.

The disagreement centres on the Glad av Gillberga, a Viking longship replica owned by Vikingaleden, a nonprofit Viking centre based in Värmland, Sweden. The vessel appeared as one of the escort ships in The Odyssey, which stars Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya and a large ensemble cast.

According to Vikingaleden chairman Peter Olausson, the ship spent approximately six months with the production before being returned with damage to areas including the stern, mast and sections of the woodwork. The association says it carried out the repairs using volunteer labour and only sought reimbursement for the cost of materials, amounting to about $6000.

"We are only charging for the material cost, not the labour," Olausson said. "Of course Universal can afford this $6000. We feel forgotten."

Olausson said the understanding between the association and the production was that any necessary repairs would be completed by the nonprofit before the studio reimbursed the expenses. While the vessel has since returned to service, he maintains that payment has yet to arrive, despite the invoice being submitted around a year ago.

For the roughly 200 member association that operates the Viking village and museum, Olausson said the outstanding amount is significant, even if it is comparatively small for a major Hollywood studio.

The Glad av Gillberga is based on the remains of an 11th century Viking era vessel discovered in Denmark's Roskilde Fjord. During production of The Odyssey, it served as one of several escort ships accompanying the film's primary vessel, the Norwegian replica Draken Harald Hårfagre, which represented Odysseus' ship.

Captain Björn Ahlander, who worked on the production aboard the main vessel, previously described filming around the Greek and Italian islands as physically demanding. He explained that modern features had to be removed from the ships to create an authentic ancient Greek appearance, leaving the crew to live aboard open deck vessels throughout much of the production.

The dispute comes as The Odyssey continues to enjoy major commercial success. The film reportedly earned about $264m during its opening weekend worldwide after debuting in cinemas, following a production budget estimated at approximately $250m.

Universal Pictures has rejected the allegation that it failed to reimburse the Swedish association. In a statement, a spokesperson said the studio's records indicate that every invoice connected to the Glad av Gillberga, including repair related costs, had already been paid in full.

The spokesperson added that both the studio and the production had contacted the association in an effort to resolve what they described as a misunderstanding regarding the payments.

At present, the disagreement remains unresolved publicly. Vikingaleden continues to maintain that the reimbursement has not been received, while Universal insists its financial obligations were fulfilled. Neither side has suggested legal proceedings, and discussions appear to be continuing as both attempt to establish whether the dispute stems from an administrative misunderstanding or another issue.