What The Cast Of "Gladiator" Looks Like After Two Decades?
Gladiator is a 2000 epic historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott (the director of Alien and Blade Runner). It stars a huge cast that includes Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Ralf Möller, Oliver Reed, Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, John Shrapnel, Richard Harris, and Tommy Flanagan, many of which would later become huge stars.
Crowe portrays Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is betrayed when Commodus, the ambitious son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, murders his father and seizes the throne. Reduced to slavery, Maximus becomes a gladiator and rises through the ranks of the arena to avenge the murders of his family and his emperor.
It was released on May 5, 2000, and received 119 nominations. It won 49 awards, 5 of which were Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor and Best Director.
22 years have gone by since the release of the film, we would like to take a look at what the cast currently looks like now. We will also feature interesting facts and things that happened during filming.
Joaquin Rafael Phoenix is an American actor, environmentalist, animal rights activist, and producer. He has received numerous awards for his acting. After a fake retirement announcement in 2008, he has been seen in such well-known films as Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot, Mary Magdalene, and received critical acclaim for Joker. His most recent performance was in C’mon C’mon. He is once again collaborating with director Ridley Scott in his upcoming epic Napoleon, in which he'll play the titular French Emperor.
Ralf Rudolf Möller is a German actor and former professional bodybuilder. The most important role of his career was in Gladiator. His last acting appearance was in Sabotage in 2014. But he is expected to appear in Kung Fury 2 as Thor.
David Schofield is an English actor. He has earned credits in television series such as Band of Gold, Footballers’ Wives, and Holby City. You may not recognize him but he was Ian Mercer in the Pirates of the Caribbean films (the guy who got a facehug from Davy Jones). His last appearance as an actor was in the series The Adventures of Paddington and Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators.
Sven-Ole Thorsen is a Danish actor and bodybuilder. He won the award for the strongest man in Denmark in 1983. And using his stature he often plays imposing giants and villains in his films who are somehow beaten by smaller opponents in a David and Goliath manner, but he has also played heroic characters such as Gunnar the legendary warrior in The Viking Sagas. His autobiography Stærk mand i Hollywood (Strong Man in Hollywood) was published on 26 October 2007 and was very well-reviewed.
Gladiator had over 10,000 costumes for the entire cast and extras. It was all designed by costume designer Janty Yates and her team.
If we see this action through the “filter” of modernity, we would think that, when the emperor makes a gesture with his thumb upward, it means that a gladiator was to be spared. And if the thumb points downward, it is the opposite. But, in reality, it was the other way around: thumb up meant sword action, therefore, the gladiator would not be spared, and down, it was a sheathed sword, indicating mercy to the gladiator. This was clear to the production team, but since the thumbs-up is now considered to be synonymous with something positive, they decided to not confuse viewers unnecessarily.
It may seem counter-intuitive to modern audiences, but the thumbs up and thumbs down gestures had the opposite meaning in Roman times. In those days, a thumb up meant sword action, therefore, the gladiator would not be spared, and a thumbs down meant a sheathed sword, indicating mercy to the gladiator. The production team understood this at the time, but since in modern culture thumbs up meant something positive, they decided to use a bit of artistic license.
Maximus’ description of his house is the exact layout of Russell’s house in Australia. He also added the smell of the kitchen to give a sentimental moment to that scene which was totally improvised.
When Maximus described his house it was actually Russell describing his own house in Australia. He even added the smell of the kitchen improvisationally to give the scene something extra.
In the battle scene of the coliseum, you can see how one of the actors is actually wearing modern shoes. This was a slip up by the producers.
Crowe portrays Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is betrayed when Commodus, the ambitious son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, murders his father and seizes the throne. Reduced to slavery, Maximus becomes a gladiator and rises through the ranks of the arena to avenge the murders of his family and his emperor.
It was released on May 5, 2000, and received 119 nominations. It won 49 awards, 5 of which were Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor and Best Director.
22 years have gone by since the release of the film, we would like to take a look at what the cast currently looks like now. We will also feature interesting facts and things that happened during filming.
#1 Russell Crowe (Maximus Decimus Meridius)
Source: russellcrowe / Instagram
#2 Connie Nielsen (Lucilla)
Source: cn_connienielsen / Instagram
#3 Joaquin Phoenix (Commodus)
Source: farmsanctuary / Instagram
Joaquin Rafael Phoenix is an American actor, environmentalist, animal rights activist, and producer. He has received numerous awards for his acting. After a fake retirement announcement in 2008, he has been seen in such well-known films as Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot, Mary Magdalene, and received critical acclaim for Joker. His most recent performance was in C’mon C’mon. He is once again collaborating with director Ridley Scott in his upcoming epic Napoleon, in which he'll play the titular French Emperor.
#4 Djimon Hounsou (Juba)
Source: The King's Man / 20th Century Studios and co-producers
#5 Derek Jacobi (Senator Gracchus)
Source: FolgerLibrary / YouTube
#6 Tommy Flanagan (Cicero)
Source: Montford: The Chickasaw Rancher / Chickasaw Nation Productions
#7 Ralf Möller (Hagen)
Source: ralf.moeller / Instagram
Ralf Rudolf Möller is a German actor and former professional bodybuilder. The most important role of his career was in Gladiator. His last acting appearance was in Sabotage in 2014. But he is expected to appear in Kung Fury 2 as Thor.
#8 David Schofield (Senator Falco)
Source: Dave J Hogan / Getty Images Entertainment/ Getty Images
David Schofield is an English actor. He has earned credits in television series such as Band of Gold, Footballers’ Wives, and Holby City. You may not recognize him but he was Ian Mercer in the Pirates of the Caribbean films (the guy who got a facehug from Davy Jones). His last appearance as an actor was in the series The Adventures of Paddington and Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators.
#9 Spencer Treat Clark (Lucius Verus)
Source: streatclark / Instagram
#10 Sven-Ole Thorsen (Tigris of Gaul)
Source: svenothorsen / Instagram
Sven-Ole Thorsen is a Danish actor and bodybuilder. He won the award for the strongest man in Denmark in 1983. And using his stature he often plays imposing giants and villains in his films who are somehow beaten by smaller opponents in a David and Goliath manner, but he has also played heroic characters such as Gunnar the legendary warrior in The Viking Sagas. His autobiography Stærk mand i Hollywood (Strong Man in Hollywood) was published on 26 October 2007 and was very well-reviewed.
#11 Giorgio Cantarini (Maximus’ son)
Source: giorgiocantarini / Instagram
Bonus: Interesting things during production
#1 An actor died before the end of filming
Source: Gladiator / DreamWorks and co-producers
#2 Creation of the wardrobe
Source: Gladiator / DreamWorks and co-producers
Gladiator had over 10,000 costumes for the entire cast and extras. It was all designed by costume designer Janty Yates and her team.
#3 Meaning of the thumbs down
Source: Gladiator / DreamWorks and co-producers
If we see this action through the “filter” of modernity, we would think that, when the emperor makes a gesture with his thumb upward, it means that a gladiator was to be spared. And if the thumb points downward, it is the opposite. But, in reality, it was the other way around: thumb up meant sword action, therefore, the gladiator would not be spared, and down, it was a sheathed sword, indicating mercy to the gladiator. This was clear to the production team, but since the thumbs-up is now considered to be synonymous with something positive, they decided to not confuse viewers unnecessarily.
It may seem counter-intuitive to modern audiences, but the thumbs up and thumbs down gestures had the opposite meaning in Roman times. In those days, a thumb up meant sword action, therefore, the gladiator would not be spared, and a thumbs down meant a sheathed sword, indicating mercy to the gladiator. The production team understood this at the time, but since in modern culture thumbs up meant something positive, they decided to use a bit of artistic license.
#4 The description of Maximus’ house
Source: Gladiator / DreamWorks and co-producers
Maximus’ description of his house is the exact layout of Russell’s house in Australia. He also added the smell of the kitchen to give a sentimental moment to that scene which was totally improvised.
When Maximus described his house it was actually Russell describing his own house in Australia. He even added the smell of the kitchen improvisationally to give the scene something extra.
#5 Trained tigers
Source: Gladiator / DreamWorks and co-producers
#6 Practically unscripted
Source: Gladiator / DreamWorks and co-producers
#7 George, the horse
Source: Robin Hood / Universal Pictures and co-producers
#8 Modern shoes
Source: Gladiator / DreamWorks and co-producers
In the battle scene of the coliseum, you can see how one of the actors is actually wearing modern shoes. This was a slip up by the producers.
#9 A cameraman inside the spectators
In Maximus’ first battle, it can be clearly seen how, among the spectators, there is a man dressed with clothes from this era and with a camera.
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