Which film inspired the depiction of the Cyclops in The Odyssey (2026)?

Francisco Goya’s painting Saturn Devouring His Son inspired the depiction of the Cyclops in The Odyssey (2026). The production used the painting as a visual reference for the creature’s unsettling appearance.

The Cyclops was not created solely through computer graphics. Bill Irwin performed on set, while animatronics and puppetry contributed to the practical creature. This combination allowed the filmmakers to give the monster a physical presence while retaining control over its unusual scale and movement.

The film’s practical treatment of the Cyclops contrasts with its predominantly digital depiction of Scylla, the six-headed sea monster. Christopher Nolan’s production therefore used different techniques for different mythological beings, depending on the visual and performance demands of each sequence.