1997 ‘The Odyssey’ Miniseries Recalled as Unserious Homer Adaptation
8 reported
A 1997 television miniseries adaptation of Homer's "The Odyssey," directed by Andrei Konchalovsky and starring Armand Assante, is being revisited as a counterpoint to Christopher Nolan's new film of the same name. The two-part miniseries aired on NBC over two back-to-back evenings in 1997 and was co-produced by Hallmark Entertainment and American Zoetrope. According to a commentary piece, the adaptation featured a cast including Greta Scacchi, Isabella Rossellini, and Christopher Lee, and was shot largely in Malta and Turkey. The miniseries had an estimated budget of $40 million, with a contemporaneous Variety report putting it at $32 million and calling it the most expensive TV drama ever made on a minute-by-minute basis. Special effects were created using puppetry, animatronics, and CGI from Jim Henson's Creature Shop. The article notes that while the miniseries does not fully adhere to Homer's plot, it includes key elements such as the Trojan Horse, the Cyclops Polyphemus, and the suitors' massacre.
What’s reported
The miniseries aired on NBC in 1997 over two back-to-back evenings.
It was directed by Andrei Konchalovsky and starred Armand Assante as Odysseus.
The cast included Greta Scacchi, Isabella Rossellini, Geraldine Chaplin, Bernadette Peters, Vanessa Williams, Eric Roberts, and Christopher Lee.
The production was co-produced by Hallmark Entertainment and American Zoetrope.
It was shot largely in Malta and Turkey.
The budget was estimated at $40 million, with a Variety report citing $32 million as the most expensive TV drama per minute.
Special effects were handled by Jim Henson's Creature Shop using puppetry, animatronics, and CGI.
The miniseries does not include the Sirens, Lotus-Eaters, or Odysseus' father Laertes.
Key figures
Andrei Konchalovsky (director)
Armand Assante (actor, Odysseus)
Greta Scacchi (actress, Penelope)
Isabella Rossellini (actress, Athena)
Christopher Lee (actor, Tiresias)
Francis Ford Coppola (executive producer)
Jim Henson's Creature Shop (special effects)
Sources: indiewire.com
