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Ridley Scott\u2019s \u2018Gladiator\u2019 opened in the UK on 12th May, 2000 - and was widely credited with resurrecting the \u2018swords-and-sandals\u2019 genre, sparking an interest in Roman history, and achieving that rare combination of critical praise and humongous box office success.\nBut the epic production was problematic - not least because supporting star Ollie Reed died during filming, leading to SFX house The Mill filling in the remainder of his scenes with CGI, at a cost of $3 million.\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how Russell Crowe came to be cast as Maximus; consider the alternative screenplays, featuring fighting hippopotamuses and man-on-man bath wrestling; and uncover songwriter Nick Cave\u2019s bizarre attempts at penning the sequel\u2026\xa0\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018Ridley Scott says Oliver Reed \u2018dropped down dead\u2019 after challenging sailors to drinking match while filming Gladiator\u2019 (The Independent, 2020): https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/oliver-reed-gladiator-death-drinking-ridley-scott-20th-anniversary-russell-crowe-joaquin-phoenix-a9499331.html\n\u2022 \u2018Gladiator 2: The strangest sequel never made?\u2019 (BBC Culture, 2018): https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20180810-gladiator-2-was-written-and-its-mad\n\u2022 \u2018Strength and Honor: Creating the World of 'Gladiator'\u2019 (DreamWorks / Universal, 2005): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rueOOMBcE3Y\nFor bonus material and to support the show, visit\xa0Patreon.com/Retrospectors\nWe'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:\xa0podfollow.com/Retrospectors\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Alexa Weissman.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2022.\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices