Gladiator | Behind-The-Scenes The screenplay, initially written by Franzoni, was inspired by the 1958 Daniel P. Mannixnovel Those About to Die. The script was acquired by DreamWorks Pictures, and Scott signed on to direct the film. Principal photography began in January 1999 and wrapped in May of that year. Production was complicated by the script being rewritten multiple times and by the death of Oliver Reed before production was finished. Before Russell Crowe was cast as Maximus, several other