Viking Longship Draken Harald Hårfagre Stars in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey

Christopher Nolan's upcoming film adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey features the Draken Harald Hårfagre, a full-scale, working Viking longship built using traditional techniques. The vessel, constructed from 2010 in Norway under oil magnate Sigurd Aase, measures over 114 feet long and 26 feet wide, with 50 oars and a 79-foot mast. It is not a replica but a voyage-ready ship that has crossed the Atlantic in 2016, visiting Iceland, Canada, and the U.S. The Draken is currently sailing from Norway to Oslo for the film's July 17 premiere, with CEO and expedition director Emanuel Persson at the helm. Nolan, known for practical effects, chose the real ship over CGI for authenticity. The vessel stands in for an ancient Greek warship, despite the anachronism of a Viking-era ship in a Bronze Age story. Persson emphasized that the ship's weight, sound, and movement bring a unique truth to the image. The crew shared knowledge of handling the ship with Nolan's production team. After the premiere, the Draken will be open to the public in Oslo from July 19–31, with future voyages planned. The project is part of experiential archaeology, aiming to showcase Vikings as sophisticated shipbuilders and navigators.