In the film "Kingdom of Heaven" actor O. Bloom plays the Crusader, who is in the center of military events unfolding in the XII century. in the Far East. The director of the historical film was Ridley Scott, who invited several more Hollywood celebrities to his project. Who starred in the next drama from the creator of Gladiator, and how was the film greeted by the public?
Briefly about the plot
The film "Kingdom of Heaven" is dedicated to the fate of the Frenchman Balian, who, in a fit of rage, kills the priest and, hiding from the soldiers, adjoins the crusader detachment. This detachment is led by Baron Gottfried Ibelinsky, who has extensive possessions in Palestine. He is the father of Ballyan.
When Ibelinsky dies on the way, he passes the knighthood and all his fortune to his son. So Balian becomes a wealthy landowner. He goes to his father’s lands and raises them out of decline. Life would seem to be getting better, but soon a war broke out between Muslims and Christians, which sucks in their millstones and Balian. He bravely fights for Jerusalem, but is forced to surrender it to Sultan Salah ad-Din. After that, Balian leaves for France with his beloved Sibylla and has not taken part in any military operations ever since.
The picture was released in May 2005 and at a cost of 130 million dollars raised almost 212 million.
“Kingdom of Heaven”: actor O. Bloom as Balian II
The main role in the historical film by Ridley Scott received the British actor O. Bloom.
Orlando Bloom began his career with the role of Noel Harrison in the sitcom Catastrophe. In 2001, his popularity skyrocketed after Bloom played Elf Legolas in Peter Jackson's famous “Lord of the Rings” fantasy film. Subsequently, the artist starred in all the film adaptations of the works of Tolkien, which the director Peter Jackson has ever released.
Bloom's filmography is generally replete with high-budget franchises. In 2003, the actor received another major role in a series of films about pirates of the Caribbean. About the adventures of the main characters - Jack Sparrow and Will Turner - four films have already been shot, and in 2017 the fifth will be released. Orlando Bloom is a permanent participant in this project, although he was long left by another main character of the saga - Keira Knightley.
Among other things, Bloom can be seen in such films as "Troy", "Gang Kelly", "Romeo and Juliet" and others.
E. Green as Sibylla of Jerusalem
Eva Green in the picture of Ridley Scott appeared in the image of the sister of the King of Jerusalem Sibylla. When Balian arrives on a visit, Sibylla secretly falls in love with him. When Jerusalem crashes, she goes with her beloved to France and begins a new life there.
Eva Green, who played Sibylla, is a native Frenchwoman. At 17, she was already fluent in English, so it was not difficult for her to pursue a career in Hollywood. In fact, the film "Kingdom of Heaven" became a Hollywood debut for Eve, because before that she starred in only two French films - "Dreamers" and "Arsene Lupine".
Then there were roles in the action movie “Casino Royale”, in the adventure film “The Golden Compass”, in the drama “Franklin” and even in the peplum “300 Spartans: The Rise of the Empire”. But today, Eva Green admits that she is not very keen on returning to Hollywood, because she is not satisfied with the meaningless scenarios there.
L. Neeson in the role of Gottfried Ibelinsky
In the film “Kingdom of Heaven”, an actor of Irish descent Liam Neeson played Baron Gottfried Ibelinsky, who leads the crusader’s expedition to Jerusalem. On the way, Gottfried dies, bequeathing to his son Balian all the wealth and land in Palestine.
The character Gottfried Ibelinsky has his real historical prototype - the leader of the 1st Crusade Count of Bouillon. According to legend, in 1099, Gottfried of Bouillon was proclaimed king of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, but refused this high rank. But he took the baronial title, received land in Palestine and called himself the "Protector of the Holy Sepulcher."
This is not the first time Liam Neeson and Orlando Bloom meet on the set: they have already starred together in The Lord of the Rings. Neeson is also known for his roles in the films Schindler's List, Michael Collins, Star Wars, Gangs of New York and Hostage.
D. Irons as Tiberius
In the drama The Kingdom of Heaven, actor Jeremy Irons embodied on the screens the image of the commander Tiberius, who was also built on the biography of a real historical person.
By Tiberius, director Ridley Scott means a noble descendant of the Toulouse counts - Raymund III. From 1174, Raimund was regent under the King of Jerusalem, Baldwin IV, and since 1184, under Baldwin V.
As for the actor himself, he began his career with the role of Mikhail Fokin in the film "Nizhinsky". Then he starred in many British films, which have long turned into English classics. However, the modern viewer can remember Jeremy Irons by his role in the drama by Bernardo Bertolucci "Escaping Beauty" with Liv Tyler in the title role. Then he appeared in the melodrama Lolita, based on the novel by V. Nabokov, and in the action movie Die Hard-3.
Today, Irons is still doing a lot: in 2016, two premieres are expected at once with his participation - the paintings “Batman vs. Superman” and “Assassin's Creed”.
Other role performers
The film "Kingdom of Heaven" was included in the filmography of many other actors.
Edward Norton, famous for his Fight Club and the movie The Illusionist, played King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem in Ridley Scott's film.
Marton Ciocash, who played Guy de Lusignan, is a New Zealand actor who can also be seen in the films Xena, The Lord of the Rings, and Bourne Supremacy.
The role of Renault de Chatillon went to the actor Brandon Gleeson, who once played in the films “Braveheart” and “Gangs of New York”. The image of the Sultan of Egypt, Salah ad-Din, was embodied on the screens by the Arab-American actor Gassan Massoud ("Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End").
You can also see Alexander Siddig (“The Da Vinci Demons”), John Finch (“Harry Cooper in Heaven”), Michael Sheen (“Another World”), Kevin McKidd (“Anatomy of Passion”) and David Thewlis in the Ridley Scott film. ("Nude").