Revered Hollywood director Christopher Nolan's next summer blockbuster won't hit theatres until July 17, 2026 and it's already setting records — and courting controversy for filming scenes in the disputed territory of Western Sahara,

Christopher Nolan has been asked to stop filming scenes from The Odyssey in the city of Dakhla, located in the Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara. Why has Christopher Nolan received backlash for filming The Odyssey in a controversial location?

Christopher Nolan is facing calls to halt production of his new Matt Damon-led epic, The Odyssey, in the Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara. The Oscar-winning British filmmaker and the film’s stars, Damon and Zendaya, were spotted July 17 arriving in the city of Dakhla, according to the Western Sahara International Film Festival (FiSahara).