“Gladiator”, released in 2000 and directed by Ridley Scott, is not just a cinematic epic that has won the hearts of millions around the world; it is also a rich source of fascinating trivia. With Russell Crowe in the lead role of Maximus Decimus Meridius, the film stands out for its engaging plot and impressive recreation of ancient Rome. But behind the grand battles and iconic scenes, there are a number of interesting details that many viewers might not be aware of.
From the historical inspiration behind the characters to the challenges faced by the production team in bringing ancient Rome to life, “Gladiator” is full of intriguing facts. Let’s explore some of these curiosities that make this film a masterpiece not only of cinema but also of film production history.
1 – THE PLOT
The plot of “Gladiator” was crafted by David Franzoni, who revealed that he was inspired by works such as “Those About to Die” by Daniel P. Mannix, published in 1958 and re-titled “The Way of the Gladiator”, as well as the collection of Roman biographies “Historia Augusta”.
Franzoni secured a contract with DreamWorks through a partnership with Steven Spielberg, which came about after their collaboration on the film “Amistad” (1998).
2 – RIDLEY SCOTT AND THE SCRIPT CHANGES
Ridley Scott was persuaded to direct the film after receiving a replica of the famous painting “Pollice Verso” by Jean-Léon Gérôme. Initially, he found David Franzoni’s script excessively exaggerated and decided to hire John Logan to make adjustments, such as including the death of Maximus’s family to intensify the character’s motivation. However, before filming began, several actors expressed dissatisfaction with the script.
In response, William Nicholson was brought in to make further changes, adding greater depth to the main character, particularly regarding his friendships and his perspective on life and death. The script underwent several rewrites and revisions, with input from the actors themselves, and some scenes that had been removed by Logan were reinstated by Nicholson.
3 – RUSSELL CROWE ALMOST DIDN’T PLAY MAXIMUS
The main character, Maximus, was based on historical Roman figures, including Narcissus, the supposed assassin of Commodus, who was the original name of the character in the scripts. Other inspirations included the rebellious slave Spartacus, the farmer-turned-dictator Cincinnatus, and General Marcus Macrinus.
Mel Gibson, Antonio Banderas, and Hugh Jackman were considered for the role, but Russell Crowe was chosen due to the insistence of director Michael Mann, the film’s high budget, and Ridley Scott’s direction, of whom Crowe was an admirer. He began filming “Gladiator” a few months after finishing “The Insider” (1999), where he gained 40 kg for the role. Crowe lost that weight during a period spent on his farm in Australia to prepare for the role of Maximus.
Although Crowe wished for Christopher Plummer, with whom he had worked on “The Insider”, to play Marcus Aurelius, Ridley Scott opted for Richard Harris, who eventually became a close friend of Crowe.
4 – JOAQUIN PHOENIX
Joaquin Phoenix was the first choice to play Commodus. The character is based on a Roman emperor who ruled from 180 to 192 AD, known for his dramatic and megalomaniac actions, such as including his name in everyday expressions and promoting a personality cult with a divine character.
Commodus did have a sister named Lucilla, whom he sentenced to death for conspiring against him. After being poisoned, Commodus managed to vomit the poison but was strangled. The apparent assassin of Commodus was Narcissus. Under his rule, Rome entered a period of instability.
5 – REBUILDING THE COLOSSEUM
For six weeks, the production team visited various locations that were part of the Roman Empire before its collapse, covering Italy, France, North Africa, and England. The arena where Maximus performs his first fights was constructed with simple materials, such as clay bricks.
On the other hand, the Roman Colosseum was reconstructed in Malta using plywood and plaster. The structure was about 15 meters high, while the rest of the Colosseum was created with CGI. This process took several months and cost approximately $1 million, including the addition of columns, gates, statues, markets, locker rooms, storage areas, and other facilities to complete the set.
The waiting area next to the Colosseum, marked with the words “LUDUS MAGNUS”, was inspired by a real location whose ruins can still be seen near the actual Colosseum. Ridley Scott found the authentic Colosseum too small and opted for a much grander construction for the film.
6 – JENNIFER LOPEZ ALMOST JOINED THE FILM
Jennifer Lopez auditioned for the role of Lucilla before Connie Nielsen was chosen. The ring worn by Lopez in the film was purchased by her at an antique store and is estimated to be around 2,000 years old.
Connie Nielsen, on the other hand, was passionate about the history of ancient Rome and was consulted to provide detailed and accurate information about the historical period depicted in the film.
7 – AUDITION? I DON’T NEED AUDITIONS
Oliver Reed was persuaded by Michael Winner to audition for the film. Although he was not inclined to audition, considering himself a well-known actor and believing it was unnecessary, Winner insisted that he needed the job and that he would not be cast in the film without auditioning, given that his career was in decline. Reed auditioned for Ridley Scott and landed the role of Proximo.
8 – THE CROWD
To create the vast audience in the Colosseum, 2,000 real people occupied the two lower tiers, while approximately 35,000 spectators were generated by computer animation, and around 400 were represented by cardboard cutouts. The actors and actresses were filmed from various angles, performing different actions.
9 – COSTUMES AND CHARIOTS
For the film, twenty-four chariots were built. Over a period of three months, more than 27,000 pieces of armor components were manufactured. The company Armordillo produced one hundred steel armors and 550 polyurethane armors. The warriors’ helmets were made of fiberglass to ensure greater lightness.
The costume team developed over 10,000 outfits for the cast and extras. Although many of the costumes were made of leather, Joaquin Phoenix received only synthetic leather to respect his vegan lifestyle.
10 – A RHINOCEROS?
For the scene of the fight between Maximus and the tiger in the Colosseum arena, five different tigers were used. In Franzoni’s original script, Maximus was supposed to face a rhinoceros, but this idea was discarded as impractical both in terms of physical execution and computer graphics.
During filming, Russell Crowe was instructed to keep a distance from the tigers at all times, and a specialized veterinarian with tranquilizer darts remained out of sight to ensure safety.
11 – CLASSIC SCENE FILMED BY A STUNT DOUBLE
The scene where Maximus’s hand passes through a wheat field was actually filmed by Russell Crowe’s stunt double, Stuart Clark. Originally, the scene was intended to be inserted at the end of the film, but editor Pietro Scalia decided to change it, placing it at the beginning and at other points throughout the story.
12 – ACTOR DIED BEFORE FILMING WAS COMPLETED
Oliver Reed passed away approximately three weeks before the main shooting was completed. As his scenes were not finished, Ridley Scott had the option to reshoot the parts of the character Proximo with another actor.
However, Scott decided to keep Reed’s image in the film, and the crew was exhausted. The script was rewritten, and some scenes, such as the confrontation between Maximus and Proximo in the arena on Commodus’s orders, were removed. To complete the remaining scenes, a body double and CGI were used to insert Reed’s face.
13 – SCRIPT ERROR?
A possible error in the recording occurred during the first battle in the Colosseum arena when Juba, while throwing a sword to Maximus, mentions his name. At that point in the story, Russell Crowe’s character had not yet revealed his name to the other gladiators and was only known as “the Spaniard”.
14 – THE POPULARITY OF “GLADIATOR”
The popularity of the film led to an increase in book sales about figures from ancient Rome, such as Cicero and Marcus Aurelius, a phenomenon known as the “Gladiator Effect.” In the years following, several films inspired by grand historical epics were released, including: “Troy” (2004), “King Arthur” (2004), “Alexander” (2004), “Kingdom of Heaven” (2005), “300” (2006), “Robin Hood” (2010), “Noah” (2014), and “Exodus – Gods and Kings” (2014).
Among these, three were directed by Ridley Scott and two starred Russell Crowe.
15 – SUCCESS AT THE BOX OFFICE AND AT THE OSCARS
“Gladiator” had an approximate budget of $103 million and grossed over $465 million worldwide. The film received 12 Oscar nominations and won 5 statuettes: Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, Best Costume Design, Best Actor for Russell Crowe, and, most importantly, Best Picture.
“Gladiator” is not only a cinematic epic but also a milestone in film history, both for its grandeur and the cultural impact it generated. The meticulous work in set and costume design, combined with memorable performances, especially by Russell Crowe, contributed to its tremendous success.
“Gladiator” remains a shining example of how cinema can blend entertainment and art, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to captivate and inspire audiences around the world.