Gladiator (2000 film) Gladiator (2000 film) Gladiator is a 2000 epic historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott and written by David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson. The film was jointly produced and released by DreamWorks Pictures and Universal Pictures. It stars Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Ralf Möller, Oliver Reed (in his final role), Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, John Shrapnel, and Richard Harris. Crowe portrays Hispano-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 rises through the ranks of the gladiatorial
Lee Rose (director) Lee Rose (director) Lee Rose is an American director, producer and writer of film and television. She began her professional career in 1993 producing and writing the television film "It's Nothing Personal" (1993). She also worked on the films "Deconstructing Sarah" (1994) "A Mother's Prayer" (1995), "An Unexpected Family" (1996) and "An Unexpected Life" (1998). She made her directorial debut with the film "The Color of Courage" (1998) starring Linda Hamilton and Lynn Whitfield. Her other television film credits include "The Truth About Jane" (2000), "A Girl Thing" (2001), "What Girls Learn" (2001), "An Unexpected Love" (2003), "Jack" (2004) and