Gladiator: 20 Secrets They Kept Hidden!

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“What we do in life echoes in eternity.”

Twenty-five years after its release, Gladiator remains one of cinema’s most enduring classics. Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix both delivered career-defining performances in the 2000 blockbuster.

As a lifestyle expert, let me share a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of Ridley Scott’s grand action-adventure epic, centering around Maximus, a general-turned-gladiator on a quest for vengeance following the tragic loss of his wife and child. With a substantial budget of $103 million and tension running high as the script was repeatedly refined, the pressure was immense to deliver a masterpiece that would live up to expectations.

However, the film “Gladiator” was highly praised by both critics and audiences alike, earning over $450 million globally and making it the second highest-grossing film of the year. Furthermore, it garnered five Academy Awards.

Nonetheless, the path wasn’t simple to reach that destination, as Crowe reportedly had conflicts with the screenwriter on set, Phoenix, who portrayed Commodus, one of cinema’s most notorious villains, nearly withdrew from the movie, and unfortunately, an actor passed away during filming.

Nowadays, Crowe, who graced our screens in the highly anticipated sequel Gladiator II released in 2024, can truly acknowledge the struggle that ensued.

He shared with TopMob News in 2020 that having a movie in his career which is still being broadcast on prime-time TV across the globe, twenty years later, regardless of what day it is, is astounding. It’s something we didn’t anticipate while filming it. In fact, during production, things were quite chaotic.

What helped was shooting each scene sequentially. 

Crowe confessed that the schedule was instrumental in our creative process since we were essentially improvising as we moved forward. To put it simply, every actor played a part in shaping their characters and adapting to the world created by Ridley. The world he constructed for us was so vivid and captivating that each actor readily embraced it, accepting the unique costumes, dialogue, and overall concept.

We’re you not entertained? 

Relive their fierce fight with these behind-the-scenes secrets. 

Originally, Narcissus – a historical figure known for strangling Commodus to death – was the primary character in the script. However, unlike other characters who were actual ancient figures, Maximus was created specifically for the film.

2. Ridley Scott felt compelled to direct a project after viewing Jean-Léon Gérôme’s 1872 painting, Pollice Verso (Thumbs Down). He stated, “That image resonated with me, encapsulating the grandeur and depravity of the Roman Empire. At that moment, I was captivated.”

3. Initially, Mel Gibson was given the main part, but it’s said that he declined because he believed himself to be too aged at 43 years.

4. As a lifestyle expert, let me share an intriguing tale from Joaquin Phoenix’s career. During the filming of “Gladiator,” he confessed to Collider that this role was particularly daunting. In his own words, “I believe that Gladiator was one of the most intimidating experiences, as my first step onto set was into a colossal expanse… I approached Ridley Scott, expressing my insecurities, ‘I’m not sure what to do, I just can’t pull this off. I don’t know your plan, and I fear it won’t work.’ Remarkably, Ridley dealt with my apprehensions by filming me for a staggering four hours without using any film in the camera.

5. As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this: To ease the apprehension of a 25-year-old Phoenix, Russell Crowe and Richard Harris thoughtfully decided to offer him some drinks. According to Crowe, it was Harris who suggested this, as Phoenix was quite anxious on set. I recall Crowe confiding in Harris, “Mate, what are we going to do with this young lad? He keeps asking me to mistreat him before takes.” So, Harris proposed, “Let’s get him tipsy.

6. Renowned for the extraordinary lengths he takes for his roles, Phoenix often kept a sword in his hotel suite and added weight to his frame.

7. Vegan for most of his life and a vocal animal activist, Phoenix refused to wear leather sandals.

8. Reportedly, Jennifer Lopez tried out for the part of Lucilla, but it was Connie Nielsen who ended up landing the role.

9. The ring Lucilla wears in the film was actually found by Nielsen and was 2,000 years old.

10. “Aren’t I kind-hearted?” This spontaneous line from Commodus, as portrayed by Phoenix, is one of his most memorable quotes.

11. In the course of a break between filming, the actor Oliver Reed, portraying Proximo, tragically passed away due to a heart attack. To finish his uncompleted scenes, the team employed CGI and stand-ins, modifying his character’s destiny. Originally, Proximo was meant to survive in the script, but he ended up meeting his end in the final cut of the movie instead.

12. During the entire filming process, Crowe found himself discontented with the script and frequently declined to recite his lines, such as, “Vengeance will be mine, whether in this world or the one to come.”

Screenwriter William Nicholson verifies reports of on-set discord, sharing with The Daily Mail an account of a particular exchange between the two parties.

In a reported conversation, Crowe allegedly stated, “‘Your scripts are poor, yet I, the supreme actor, can breathe life into even the most mediocre lines,'” to Nicholson. To which Nicholson replied, “It’s actually quite accurate. Granted, the lines weren’t poor and he did have a touch of arrogance, but his extraordinary acting skills made me overlook his occasional boasts.

13. While discussing his experience on Inside the Actor’s Studio, Crowe spoke about the numerous injuries he sustained during filming, highlighting how it affected his physical health.

He mentioned, “There’s been plenty of blood, plenty of scrapes, and I still have quite a few small scars, some hidden and some visible, like this one on my elbow. Plus, I’ve got a discoloration that’s reminiscent of the Gladiator. Over the years, I’ve had various injuries such as Achilles tendons giving way, issues with my knees, both shoulders, one of which required surgery. I also have a persistent lower back problem due to falls during fight scenes, and occasionally, a rib pops out causing discomfort.

14. It is said that Jude Law underwent a screen test for the character of Commodus, yet Scott had Phoenix as his top pick right from the beginning.

15. Actor Jack Gleeson, who played the detested villain Joffrey Baratheon in Game of Thrones, modeled his character after Phoenix’s portrayal of Commodus.

Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of Commodus in “Gladiator” significantly influenced his characterization of Joffrey, as he mentioned to Entertainment Weekly, and that smirk in particular left a lasting impression.

16. In order to generate a huge crowd, a total of 2,000 extras were enlisted, along with an additional 33,000 digital characters to populate the stadium. Moreover, over 27,000 costumes of armor were made for the movie, and the production team even replicated one-third of the Coliseum to enhance the film’s authenticity.

As an ardent admirer looking back on those moments, let me share that I initially secured the role of Tigris of Gaul, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be during the filming process as Sven-Ole Thorsen took over. In a conversation with Red Carpet TV News, I shared my sentiments, stating, “I had the part, twice,” implying a second audition. Rumors swirled that Arnold Schwarzenegger intervened to replace me because, in his words, I was “more of a threat.

18. In total, the film “Gladiator” received a stunning 12 Oscar nominations and eventually took home five awards. Among these honors were Best Actor for Crowe, Best Picture, Best Visual Effects, Best Costume Design, and Best Sound.

19. In the year 2015, Scott tied the knot with Giannina Facio, the actress who portrayed Maximus’ slain wife on screen, 15 years following the movie’s initial release.

20. For many years prior to 2024, plans were being made for the sequel of “Gladiator II”. Producers announced they had been collaborating with Scott on this project. “The story continues 30 years or 25 years later”, as Walter F. Parkes shared with HeyUGuys in 2018.

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2025-05-05 15:18