Gladiators of Rome
Italian theatrical release poster
ItalianGladiatori di Roma
Directed byIginio Straffi
Screenplay byIginio Straffi
Michael J. Wilson
Story byIginio Straffi
Produced byMario Anniballi
Iginio Straffi
Starring
CinematographyGianmario Catania
Edited byJoanne Lee
Serena Dovì
Music byBruno Zambrini
Tommy Caputo
Production
company
Distributed byMedusa Film
Release date
  • October 18, 2012 (2012-10-18)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryItaly
LanguageItalian
Budget$45[1]-55[2] million
Box office$10 million[3]

Gladiators of Rome (Italian: Gladiatori di Roma) is a 2012 Italian computer-animated comedy film produced by Rainbow, a studio co-owned by Iginio Straffi and Viacom at the time. Viacom's Paramount Pictures released the film in North America[4] while Medusa Film handled distribution in Italy. The film was directed by Straffi, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Michael J. Wilson. 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] Paramount Pictures (the film unit of Viacom, which co-owns Rainbow) worked with the Italian team on both the casting[7] and story for the film; Paramount asked for certain scenes to be changed for American audiences.[6] The project was in development for over five years[8] and became one of the most expensive Italian films ever made.[1] Its production budget alone was estimated to be around $45–55[2] million in U.S. dollars, with promotion and advertising costs bringing its total to almost $80 million (70 million euros).[8]

The film was a box-office bomb, grossing just 818,913 euros in its opening weekend.[9] Triboo Media's Federico Boni wrote that "there could not have been a worse opening for the 'blockbuster.'"[10] According to Box Office Mojo, the film ended its theatrical release with about $10 million worldwide.[3] In 2016, Straffi presumed that the poor performance of the film was a result of the Rainbow studio's lack of experience with cinema.[11]

Plot

It is the age of Imperial Rome, during the reign of Emperor Domitian. 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 and falls in love with the beautiful 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 Glenn Wrage
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."[12] The film was officially announced in October 2008 under the working title Versus Roma.[13] It was tentatively scheduled for a release date in 2010.[13]

Soundtrack

  1. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)"
  2. "The Final Countdown"
  3. "The Best"
  4. "Symphony No. 5"
  5. "Everyday"[14]
  6. "Tears and Rain" - James Blunt

References

  1. 1 2 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.
  2. 1 2 McLean, Tom (25 May 2011). "Paramount Picks Up 'Not Born to Be Gladiators'". Animation Magazine.
  3. 1 2 "Gladiators of Rome (2014)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  4. ↑ Goodridge, Mike (13 May 2011). "Paramount strikes deal for Rainbow's Not Born To Be Gladiators". Screen International.
  5. ↑ "Gladiatori di Roma". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 Scarpa, Vittoria (16 October 2012). "Iginio Straffi, regista: "I miei gladiatori contro il doping"". Cineuropa (in Italian).
  7. ↑ Goldman Getzler, Wendy (25 May 2011). "Rainbow's 3D film goes Paramount". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications.
  8. 1 2 Aquaro, Peppe (14 October 2012). "I miei Gladiatori un mito positivo". Corriere della Sera (in Italian).
  9. ↑ Fusco, Fabio (22 October 2012). "Box office: Ted e Paranormal Activity 4 in vetta alla top ten". Movieplayer.it (in Italian).
  10. ↑ Boni, Federico (22 October 2012). "Gladiatori di Roma 3D fa flop al botteghino". Cineblog.it (in Italian).
  11. ↑ Zampa, Alice (3 January 2016). "Animazione: perché l'Italia resta indietro? Ce lo racconta Iginio Straffi". Movieplayer.it (in Italian).
  12. ↑ Straffi, Iginio (26 November 2007). "Iginio Straffi: "Attenta Pixar arrivano le Winx"". Luce Cinecittà (Interview) (in Italian). Interviewed by Valentina Neri.
  13. 1 2 Arnaldi, Valeria (22 August 2008). "Roma capitale del made in Italy dell'animazione". Il Giornale (in Italian).
  14. ↑ "Gladiatori di Roma Soundtrack (2012)".
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