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
The Gladiator (play) well written and encouraged a second submission by Bird. The following year, Bird won Forrest's prize a second time with that play that would become his most impactful, "The Gladiator". Bird's brother Henry, in a letter advised Robert to continue with "The Gladiator" as Spartacus was "altogether more suited to Forrest's Roman figure & actions." In fact, it turned out to be the perfect vehicle to showcase Forrest’s “muscular acting style” . Thanks to "The Gladiator", Forrest became “the most famous American actor of his day”. "The Gladiator" tells the story of a man yearning to live freely and removed