TROY (2004)

Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen (The Perfect Storm, Air Force One, Outbreak)

Written by: David Benioff (25th Hour), based on the poem The Iliad by Homer

Stars: Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, Peter O'Toole, Julie Christie, Rose Byrne, Sean Bean, Brendan Gleeson, Brian Cox, Saffron Burrows

Release Date: 14 May 2004 (US), 27 May 2004 (Australia)

Filming Locations: London, UK; Malta; Mexico. Filming commenced 22 April 2003 at Shepperton Studios, West London, UK; moved to Malta early May 2003; and is now underway in Los Cabos, Mexico.

Distributor: Warner Bros

The Story:

In 1193 B.C., Paris of Troy (Orlando Bloom) stole the beautiful Greek woman, Helen (Diane Kruger), away from her husband, Menelaus, the king of Sparta, setting the two nations at war with each other. The Greeks began a bloody siege of Troy using their entire armada, led by Achilles (Brad Pitt), that lasted over a decade (according to Homer's account).

Eric Bana plays Hector, the leader of the Trojan forces; Rose Byrne plays Briseis, a Trojan slave and cousin of Hector and Paris who is given to Achilles as a gift.

Articles:

Toga sagas conquer the world - Observer (UK), 13 Aug 2003

Orlando Multimedia - report from Mexico, 29 July 2003

Cameras Start Rolling - Times of Malta, 14 May 2003

Troy set one of the biggest in Europe - Times of Malta, 9 May 2003 - includes another set pic

Troy shooting in Malta - Times of Malta, 6 May 2003 - includes another set pic

Troy Ship Tested - Times of Malta, 5 May 2003 - first pic from the set!

City of Troy taking shape at Fort Ricasoli (Malta) - Times of Malta, 31 March 2003

Rose warms to new role as Pitt's slave girl - Sydney Morning Herald, 20 Jan 2003

BBC's Web Access to David Benioff - BBC

Rose Byrne to co-star with Brad Pitt in Troy

Australian actor Rose Byrne will star alongside Brad Pitt in Hollywood's big-budget Greek mythology film, Troy, its producers said.

Byrne, 23, will play Briseis, the cousin of Hector, played by another Australian Eric Bana, who catches the attention of Pitt, in the lead character of Achilles. Achilles takes revenge when she is captured by the enemy.

"I'm a bit in shock but I'm very excited to be a part of such a big production," Byrne said in a statement. "I can't wait to start working with (director) Wolfgang Petersen and such a wonderful cast."

Byrne has worked in some of Australia's top film productions, including Two Hands, which starred Bryan Brown and Heath Ledger. In 2000 she won the best actress award at the Venice Film Festival for her performance in The Goddess of 1967. Byrne has also appeared in Star Wars: Episode II, Beneath the Banyan Tree and I Capture the Castle, and is currently in filming for Wicker Park. She performs in yet-to-be-released Australian titles The Rage in Placid Lake and The Night We Called it a Day.

Troy, based on Homer's The Iliad and produced by Warner Bros Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures, begins shooting in the first half of this year in Britain, Malta and Morocco. Director Peterson's previous films include The Perfect Storm, Air Force One and Das Boot.

The Age - 15 Jan 2003