Gladiators of Rome (film)
Gladiators of Rome | |
---|---|
![]() Italian theatrical release poster | |
Italian | Gladiatori di Roma |
Directed by | Iginio Straffi |
Screenplay by | Iginio Straffi Michael J. Wilson |
Story by | Iginio Straffi |
Produced by | Mario Anniballi Iginio Straffi |
Starring | Luca Argentero Laura Chiatti Belén Rodríguez |
Cinematography | Gianmario Catania |
Edited by | Joanne Lee Serena Dovì |
Music by | Bruno Zambrini Tommy Caputo |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Medusa Film (Italy) Paramount Pictures[1] (international) |
Release date |
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Running time | 95 minutes |
Country | Italy |
Language | Italian |
Budget | $45[2]-55[3] million |
Box office | $10 million[4] |
Gladiators of Rome (Italian: Gladiatori di Roma)[a] is a 2012 Italian computer-animated comedy film produced by Rainbow SpA, a studio co-owned by Iginio Straffi and Viacom. Viacom's Paramount Pictures released the film in North America while Medusa Film handled distribution in Italy. The film was directed by Straffi, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Michael J. Wilson (creator of the Ice Age franchise). Gladiators of Rome had its world premiere in Italy on 18 October 2012.[5]
While conceiving the idea for the film, Iginio Straffi chose to write about ancient Rome so that he could set the story in Italy while still appealing to an international audience.[6] Gladiators of Rome is a spoof of serious films about gladiators, which Straffi said "easily lend themselves to parody."[6] The project was in development for over five years[7] and became one of the most expensive Italian films ever made.[2] Its production budget alone was estimated to be around $45–55[3] million in U.S. dollars, with promotion and advertising costs bringing its total to almost $80 million (70 million euros).[7]
The film was a box-office bomb, grossing just 818,913 euros in its opening weekend.[8] Triboo Media's Federico Boni wrote that "there could not have been a worse opening for the 'blockbuster.'"[9] According to Box Office Mojo, the film ended its theatrical release with about $10 million worldwide.[4] In 2016, Straffi presumed that the poor performance of the film was a result of the Rainbow studio's lack of experience with cinema.[10]
Plot
It is the age of Imperial Rome. Young Timo is an orphan of Pompeii's terrible eruption, adopted by general Chirone and raised in the most famous Gladiators' Academy in Rome. However, Timo is not exactly gladiator material. He just wants to hang out with his friends, Ciccius and Mauritius, and avoid his stepfather's bizarre training sessions at all costs. When Timo meets the lovely Lucilla, he decides to change his life and bring out the valor inside himself - valor that has never shown itself before. Through spells, crazy raids in the woods and the terrible trainings of a very personal lady trainer, Timo has to transform himself into the greatest gladiator of all time. And as they say, if "fortune favors the bold" in Rome hard times are awaiting for Timo and the gang.
Voice cast
Character | Italian | English |
---|---|---|
Timo | Luca Argentero | John Schwab |
Lucilla | Laura Chiatti | Jo Wyatt |
Diana | Belén Rodríguez | Flaminia Fegarotti |
Cassio | Fabrizio De Flaviis | Tim Beckmann |
Circe | Daniela Abbruzzese | Emma Tate |
Domitian | Enzo Avolio | Jonathan Keeble |
Chirone | Massimo Corvo | Todd Haberkorn |
Mauritius | Fabrizio Mazzotta | Walter Lewis |
Ciccius | Gianluca Machelli | Mikey O'Connor |
Fabrickius | Francesco Vairano | William Hope |
Production
In November 2007, Iginio Straffi first mentioned that he was working with Michael J. Wilson on a comedy film, but it was "still a top-secret topic."[11] The film was officially announced in October 2008 under the working title Versus Roma.[12] It was tentatively scheduled for a release date in 2010.[12]
Soundtrack
- "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)"
- "The Final Countdown"
- "The Best"
- "Everyday" [13]
- "Tears and Rain" - James Blunt
Notes
- ^ Also known under the working titles Versus Roma and Not Born to Be Gladiators and referred to in marketing as Gladiators of Rome 3D
References
- ^ Goodridge, Mike (13 May 2011). "Paramount strikes deal for Rainbow's Not Born To Be Gladiators". Screen International.
- ^ a b J. Lyman, Eric (February 15, 2013). "Italy's Big-Budget 'Gladiators 3D' to Premiere at L.A.-Italia Fest". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
- ^ a b McLean, Tom (25 May 2011). "Paramount Picks Up 'Not Born to Be Gladiators'". Animation Magazine.
- ^ a b "Gladiators of Rome (2014)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ^ "Gladiatori di Roma". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ a b Scarpa, Vittoria (16 October 2012). "Iginio Straffi, regista: "I miei gladiatori contro il doping"". Cineuropa (in Italian).
- ^ a b Aquaro, Peppe (14 October 2012). "I miei Gladiatori un mito positivo". Corriere della Sera (in Italian).
- ^ Fusco, Fabio (22 October 2012). "Box office: Ted e Paranormal Activity 4 in vetta alla top ten". Movieplayer.it (in Italian).
- ^ Boni, Federico (22 October 2012). "Gladiatori di Roma 3D fa flop al botteghino". Cineblog.it (in Italian).
- ^ Zampa, Alice (3 January 2016). "Animazione: perché l'Italia resta indietro? Ce lo racconta Iginio Straffi". Movieplayer.it (in Italian).
- ^ Straffi, Iginio (26 November 2007). "Iginio Straffi: "Attenta Pixar arrivano le Winx"". Luce Cinecittà (Interview) (in Italian). Interviewed by Valentina Neri.
- ^ a b Arnaldi, Valeria (22 August 2008). "Roma capitale del made in Italy dell'animazione". Il Giornale (in Italian).
- ^ http://www.soundtrack.net/album/gladiatori-di-roma/
External links
- 2012 films
- Italian 3D films
- Italian films
- Italian fantasy comedy films
- Italian animated films
- 2010s children's fantasy films
- 2010s fantasy-comedy films
- Animated comedy films
- Films set in Rome
- Films set in the Roman Empire
- Films set in the 1st century
- Italian-language films
- English-language films
- 2012 computer-animated films
- Films about gladiatorial combat
- 2012 comedy films