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‘Gladiator’ Meets ‘The Lord of the Rings’ in HBO Max’s $497M Historical Epic
Wolfgang Petersen's 2004 historical epic Troy has become a surprise streaming hit on HBO Max and is also performing well on VOD platforms such as the Apple TV Store, according to tracking site FlixPatrol. The resurgence comes as anticipation builds for Christopher Nolan's forthcoming Greek mythology film The Odyssey, drawing renewed attention to earlier cinematic takes on Homer's works.
Troy, adapted from Homer's The Iliad and written by future Game of Thrones co-creator David Benioff, starred Brad Pitt as Achilles alongside Lord of the Rings actors Orlando Bloom and Sean Bean, who played Odysseus. The film grossed roughly $497 million worldwide following its 2004 release, and its renewed popularity is being framed as a nostalgic prelude to Nolan's upcoming adaptation.
In short
- Troy (2004) is surging on HBO Max and VOD platforms
- Revival comes ahead of Nolan's The Odyssey release
- Original film grossed about $497 million, starring Brad Pitt
Explained simply
Troy is a 2004 film based on The Iliad, an ancient Greek poem traditionally attributed to Homer. It tells a version of the story of the Trojan War, a conflict between the Greek forces and the city of Troy, with the warrior Achilles among its central figures.
The film was directed by Wolfgang Petersen and written by David Benioff, who later co-created Game of Thrones. Brad Pitt played Achilles; Orlando Bloom and Sean Bean, both known for The Lord of the Rings films, also appeared, with Bean playing Odysseus, a Greek leader whose story is told in a separate Homeric poem, The Odyssey.
Troy earned about $497 million worldwide after its release. Its story draws on ancient material that has inspired many later works, and Christopher Nolan is preparing another film adaptation of The Odyssey.