Brad Pitt might’ve won the battle in Troy, but his was a pyrrhic victory.
While the film in itself failed to seize the audience in a trance the way Homer’s epic did, the grueling duel between Achilles and Hector certainly qualifies as one of the most gripping aspects of the on-screen adaptation. Incidentally enough, the classic fight between Pitt and his co-star Eric Bana was just as thrilling for them as it was for the spectators. The two had their pride and money riding on it after all.
Brad Pitt & Eric Bana Struck A Gentleman’s Wager in Troy
Wolfgang Petersen’s adaptation of Iliad might have fared well commercially, but it wasn’t a success in the eyes of fans and critics. A Warner Bros. production, the movie comprised an ensemble cast of Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, and Sean Bean. And while it was inspired by the Trojan War, the 2004 venture wasn’t completely faithful to the source material. One thing that the film did get right, however, was the intense face-off that unfolds between the lead characters.
Pitt, who portrayed Achilles, the greatest of all Greek warriors and Bana, who played the noble and loyal protector of Troy, Hector, decided to rule out the prospect of stunt doubles for their fighting sequence, adamant on filming it themselves. To give it a little twist of their own, the two reached a gentleman’s agreement according to which they’d pay up for each time either one of them made bodily contact. The leading men thus agreed upon the numbers they’d be doling out – every light blow would be tantamount to $50 and a more severe hit would cost them $100.
Brad Pitt Lost the Gamble to His Co-Star
In Greek mythology, Achilles is the more accomplished combatant, an indefatigable force but also the furthest from being honorable, unlike his more righteous opponent. Nevertheless, in terms of skill and valor, the Greek hero is deemed the better wielder of the sword after he ends up surpassing and even slaying Hector.
Now, coming back to Petersen’s film, while Pitt’s Achilles won the combat in the film, Bana emerged victorious behind the cameras.
After all was said and done, the Babylon actor ended up owing his co-star a full $750 while Bana remained scot free, not having to pay any money whatsoever to the former. While there’s no definite record of just how many shoves and grapples led to Pitt losing the wager, his co-star did mention being on the receiving end of “a full-fledged backhand fist to the face” during the fight (via Looper). Yup, that explains the $750.
Troy can be streamed on Netflix.
Source: IMDb
