What Caused Oliver Stone's Alexander to Fail – and Is There Potential for the Epic to Be Revisited? - MovieMaker Magazine

      Colin Farrell in Alexander. Photo credit: Warner Bros. Pictures.

      Oliver Stone's Alexander took 16 years to produce and was highly anticipated prior to its 2004 release. It rode the waves of excitement generated by Gladiator and featured some of Hollywood's top stars, making its poor performance at the box office quite unexpected.

      Given that Alexander the Great is one of the most recognized figures in history, it seems logical that Stone or another filmmaker might want to take another shot at the story.

      Alexander the Great Is One of the Most Renowned Historical Personas

      Although Alexander the Great is a prominent figure in popular culture, he hasn’t been portrayed in film since Stone’s 2004 version. The film’s lack of success may have discouraged other directors from attempting a new adaptation.

      Nevertheless, the legendary Greek figure continues to appear in popular culture alongside other notable historical characters like Cleopatra. For instance, there are slot games themed around him, such as Alexander the Great: World Conqueror. Players who take advantage of Betfair's new customer promotions, including the deposit match bonus, can play these slots. Additionally, the warrior is featured in other games, including Civilization VI, where he is a playable leader.

      Prior to Stone's film, Robert Rossen directed Alexander the Great in 1956, starring Richard Burton. That film also performed poorly, earning only $2.5 million against a $4 million budget. With both significant Hollywood films about the figure underperforming, production companies may be hesitant to revisit the subject.

      Stone’s Film Was a Startling Failure

      When Stone's 2004 film about the conqueror grossed only $167 million against a $155 million budget, it was utterly shocking. The film had all the elements to succeed, showcasing some of the biggest stars of the era, including Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie, and Val Kilmer, not to mention the legendary Anthony Hopkins. Moreover, it was released after Gladiator, which had successfully revitalized historical epics.

      As reported in the Hollywood Reporter, everyone involved expected the film to be a major success and thought they would be heading for the Oscars. Instead, it turned into a critical disaster, leaving many questioning how it ever made it to theaters.

      Will Anyone Try to Revive the Film?

      At the time of Stone’s Alexander, there were reportedly other projects in development. There was a race to get a film about the ruler to market, which contributed to the chaotic final product from Stone. Den of Geek highlights that Baz Luhrmann had been working on a project with Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicole Kidman, but Stone's version reached completion first.

      Given the dismal outcomes of both films based on Alexander the Great so far, it may be challenging to find someone willing to tackle a new version for contemporary audiences. It is unfortunate that this iconic historical figure has yet to receive a film that does justice to his legacy.