A Viking ship owned by the Varmlands Viking Center in central Sweden was returned damaged after being used in the filming of Christopher Nolan’s movie “The Odyssey,” raising questions over unpaid repairs. The nearly 60-foot replica vessel, Glad av Gillberga, was hired by a film production company affiliated with Universal Pictures in late 2024 for the project initially referred to as “Charlie’s Tale.”

Peter Olausson, chairman of the Varmlands Viking Center, said the center agreed to lease the ship for the film, which required Viking-style boats despite its setting in ancient Greek mythology. The replica had been built in 1998 by Viking enthusiasts using traditional methods and has since served educational and cultural purposes, including school visits and sailing demonstrations.

Upon its return from filming in the Mediterranean, the Glad av Gillberga had sustained a crack in its hull, parts of the rigging needed replacement, and the paintwork required attention. According to Olausson, these damages were significant but expected to be covered under the contract, which stipulated that the vessel must be returned in good condition with any damage outside of reasonable wear and tear repaired or replaced by the production company.

Volunteers at the center carried out repairs and Olausson submitted an invoice totaling $6,000 to Neil Andrea, the marine coordinator for “The Odyssey” and a contact at Charlie’s Tale Ltd., in December 2024. The invoice included the cost of materials but excluded labor, as the refurbishment was undertaken by volunteers. Olausson noted that the charge had been reduced from an original $9,000 in an effort to settle the matter promptly.

Despite multiple follow-ups, the Viking center has not received payment, and a Universal Pictures spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Olausson expressed frustration that the unpaid repairs and resulting downtime had caused additional losses for the small historical attraction.

While disappointed, Olausson also expressed appreciation for the opportunity to see the ship featured prominently in the film. He said he had viewed it about 10 times since the movie’s release, primarily in early scenes depicting Odysseus’ fleet departing Troy. “Of course, you can’t see any real detail,” he said, “but for me it was, ‘Ah, there’s Glad! There’s my ship.’”

The Varmlands Viking Center continues to operate with the repaired vessel, but the unresolved payment issue underscores challenges that smaller cultural institutions may face when collaborating with major film productions.