1/7
Dreamworks/Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock
1. In the initial script, the main character was Narcissus, the real-life man who strangled Commodus to death. While most of the film's characters are real ancient figures, Maximus was fictional.
2. Ridley Scott was convinced he should direct after being shown Jean-Léon Gérôme's 1872 painting Pollice Verso (Thumbs Down). "That image spoke to me of the Roman Empire in all its glory and wickedness," Scott said. "I knew right then and there I was hooked."
3. Mel Gibson was first offered the lead role, but reportedly turned it down as he felt he was too old at 43.
