The Mythical Movie Christopher Nolan Nearly Directed Is a Big Streaming Hit

A 2004 sci-fi epic, which Christopher Nolan was supposed to direct, has become a surprise hit on AMC+ this week. Although the film didn’t fare well with critics upon release, the audience embraced it, making it a commercial success. Additionally, the movie is based on the works of the same ancient Greek poet who inspired Nolan’s upcoming film, The Odyssey.

Troy ranks high on AMC+ charts

According to FlixPatrol’s data for May 19, Troy is #10 on AMC+’s Top 10 overall in the United States. Notably, the list indicates the streaming preferences of subscribers who’ve opted for AMC+ as an add-on to their Amazon Prime Video membership. Nonetheless, despite being released over two decades ago, the film’s resurgence showcases strong interest among streaming audiences.

Meanwhile, AMC+’s new original horror series The Terror: Devil In Silver is leading the charts. It is followed by Zach Galifianakis’s The Audacity at #2, Dafne Keen’s Whistle at #3, Peter Cushing’s Tales from the Crypt at #4, and Will Smith’s I Am Legend at #5.

Troy is based on the ancient Greek poet Homer’s poem, Iliad. The film also draws on elements from Quintus Smyrnaeus’s Posthomerica. They are some of the most popular and well-preserved pieces of ancient literature today. Oscar-nominated filmmaker Wolfgang Petersen helmed the feature adaptation. However, he wasn’t always meant to do so.

In the early 2000s, Warner Bros. planned to produce a Batman vs Superman film with Petersen attached as its director. At the same time, the studio hired Christopher Nolan to direct Troy.

But after WB scrapped its plan for the superhero film, Petersen took over Troy. The studio then offered Nolan Batman as a “consolation prize” (via SlashFilm). Needless to say, both filmmakers were successful in making iconic films.

Set in ancient Greece, the film follows the conflict between Troy and Sparta after Prince Paris of Troy elopes with Helen, the wife of Spartan king Menelaus. Game of Thrones’ David Benioff wrote the film’s screenplay. Its cast features Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, Brian Cox, Sean Bean, Brendan Gleeson, and Rose Byrne, among others.

Released on May 14, 2004, the film received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a critics’ approval rating of 53%. In contrast, the audience score is higher at 74%. Made on a massive $175 million budget, Troy went on to earn over $497.4 million at the box office. The film also earned an Oscar nomination for its costume design.

Source: Comingsoon.net