As a seasoned movie buff with a penchant for Hollywood history and a soft spot for Brad Pitt, I must say that the actor’s ironic injury during the filming of Troy is one for the books. It’s like fate was having a little chuckle as Pitt portrayed Achilles, whose famous weakness was his heel – only to have Pitt himself suffer an injury to his own Achilles tendon!
For over 30 years, Hollywood leading man Brad Pitt has been dazzling audiences all across the world with his engaging and eclectic performances, starring in a slew of unforgettable hits like Seven, Fight Club, Inglourious Basterds, and World War Z (among countless others). There is no project or character that has proven too intimidating for the seasoned star, and in 2004, he further ventured out and tackled the historical war genre when he appeared as Achilles in the Iliad-inspired epic Troy.
In the grand scheme of things, I found myself starring alongside an impressive lineup, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, and Diane Kruger, in a blockbuster spectacle that echoed the trials faced by the legendary Greek hero I portrayed on screen. Ironically enough, during the filming of this engrossing epic, I endured a painful injury to my Achilles tendon – a setback that pushed production weeks behind schedule. However, this unfortunate incident didn’t dampen the final product’s success; it raked in close to half a billion at the box office upon release.
Brad Pitt’s Ironic Injury During Troy’s Production
In the grand cinematic spectacles directed by Wolfgang Petersen, such as “The NeverEnding Story” and “Air Force One”, Brad Pitt brilliantly brought to life the legendary Greek warrior, Achilles, renowned for his victories in the Trojan War. This character, from Homer’s epic poem “The Iliad,” is famous for his one fatal flaw – his heel – which ultimately led to his defeat and death during the battle. The term “Achilles’ heel” comes from this tragic event in history.
Pitt spent six months meticulously preparing to portray the formidable fighter, aiming to sculpt his physique like a Greek statue. However, despite his rigorous preparations, he was unexpectedly sidelined by an injury to his Achilles tendon – ironically similar to that of his character. The fateful incident occurred during the scene where his character engages in hand-to-hand combat with a colossal adversary named Boagrius, demonstrating his martial arts prowess and leaping away from his adversary, an action that would ultimately cause him to be out of commission for several months during filming. Speaking about the tense filming experience that echoed the epic poem (via The Sydney Morning Herald), Petersen commented:
“Observe his expression upon landing; for a moment, it’s clear something is amiss. This works well for the scene, but not for the movie as a whole. Unfortunately, Brad was injured and we had to reschedule the final scene, which coincidentally was another intense one-on-one fight between Brad and Eric.”
Troy Was a Box Office Hit, But Critical Dud
In spite of Pitt and the grand historical film suffering significant setbacks during production due to an unfortunate injury, Troy still premiered magnificently on May 14, 2004, and ruled the box office. It ultimately amassed a staggering $497 million globally. The thrilling movie made $46.9 million in its opening weekend and stood alongside powerhouses like Shrek 2, The Passion of the Christ, and Spider-Man 2 as one of the top earners of the year.
As crowds thronged to witness the highly anticipated leading actor play the legendary Greek hero, reviews were less favorable towards the action-filled movie. Critics often criticized it for deviating from the Iliad and failing to offer emotional depth. However, despite these criticisms, Troy was recognized with a nomination for an Academy Award in Best Costume Design and was praised for its stunning visuals and Pitt’s commanding performance. This epic film further solidified Pitt’s status as a major player in Hollywood. You can now watch or purchase Troy on Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, or Apple TV.
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2024-09-01 03:01