Gladiators of Rome (film)

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]

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 Massimo Corvo Enzo Avolio Fabrizio Mazzotta Gianluca Machelli Daniela Abbruzzese Fabrizio De Flaviis Michele Cucuzza Francesco Vairano
Cinematography	Gianmario Catania
Edited by	Joanne Lee Serena Dovì
Music by	Bruno Zambrini Tommy Caputo
Production company	Rainbow S.p.A. (Viacom)
Distributed by	Medusa Film
Release date	October 18, 2012 (2012-10-18)
Running time	95 minutes
Country	Italy
Language	Italian
Budget	$45[1]-55[2] million
Box office	$10 million[3]

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. 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. McLean, Tom (25 May 2011). "Paramount Picks Up 'Not Born to Be Gladiators'". Animation Magazine.
3. "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. 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. 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. Arnaldi, Valeria (22 August 2008). "Roma capitale del made in Italy dell'animazione". Il Giornale (in Italian).
14. "Gladiatori di Roma Soundtrack (2012)".

External links

• Gladiators of Rome at IMDb