For over 30 years, Hollywood leading manBrad Pitthas been dazzling audiences all across the world with his engaging and eclectic performances, starring in a slew of unforgettable hits likeSeven, Fight Club, Inglourious Basterds,andWorld War Z(among countless others). There is no project or character that has proven too intimidating for the seasoned star, and in 2004, he further ventured out and tackled the historical war genre when he appeared as Achilles in theIliad-inspired epicTroy.
Pitt appeared alongside a large ensemble cast, including Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, and Diane Kruger, in the blockbuster hit, yet much like the great Greek warrior he portrayed in the film, the Academy Award-winning actor faced his own unique set of trials and tribulations. During production of the engrossing epic,Pitt ironically suffered a painful injury to his Achilles tendonthat set filming back several weeks. Yet, the unfortunate hiccup did not hinder the final product, which grossed nearly half a billion at the box office upon its release.
In the Wolfgang Petersen (The NeverEnding Story, Air Force One) big screen extravaganza, Pitt winningly portrayed the famous Trojan War hero who became known as the greatest Greek warrior to ever live, proving his skills and dedication as a fighter during the legendary conflict. Even the most casual literary buff knows all too well thattheIliadcharacter’s one true weakness was his heel, which proved to be his ultimate vulnerability and led to his demise during the epic battle; the term Achilles' heel was named after the hero’s tragic downfall.
Orlando Bloom Gets Brutally Candid About Filming Historical Epic Troy: ‘Am I Allowed to Say All of These Things?’
Filming Troy was not a great experience for Orlando Bloom, as he did not want to be in the movie at all.
Pitt trained for six monthsto tackle the hefty role of the fierce fighter, wanting to transform his body into that of a Greek statue. Yet, all his rigorous preparation couldn’t brace the actor for the bitterly ironic injury to his own Achilles heel.The silver screen staple tore his Achilles during the scene in which the hero battles a giant warrior named Boagrius, showcasing his martial arts skills and leaping away from his opponent in an act that would ultimately leave him down for the count for a few months during production. Petersen said of the taut and tense filming moment that mirrored the epic poem (viaThe Sydney Morning Herald):
“Look at his face when he lands. There’s a second you can see something’s wrong. Great for the scene, terrible for the movie. Brad was hobbling around for months and we had to come back later to finish the last scene - which, ironically, was another big one-on-one combat scene, the one between Brad and Eric.”
Troy Was a Box Office Hit, But Critical Dud
Despite both Pitt and the sweeping historical epic taking a major hit during productiondue to the woefully ironic injury,Troynonetheless made its spectacular debut on June 08, 2025,and dominated the box office, going on to gross a whopping $497 million worldwide. The electrifying film earned $46.9 million in its opening weekend and became one of the highest-grossing releases of the year alongside fellow knockoutsShrek 2, The Passion of the Christ,andthe belovedSpider-Man 2.
While audiences flocked to see the buzzed-about leading man portray the iconic Greek hero, critics were less-than-impressed by the action-packed picture, with many expressing their disdain over the screenplay’s lack of faithfulness to theIliadand lack of emotional depth. Nonetheless,Troywas nominated for an Academy Awardfor Best Costume Design and was lauded for its dazzling visuals and powerhouseperformance by Pitt, with the epic further establishing the star as a Hollywood heavy hitter.Troyis available to rent or buy onPrime Video,Google Play, orApple TV.
