The 13th Warrior
Short description
In the tenth century, the Arab nobleman and poet Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan is sent away from his homeland as punishment for a forbidden romance, serving as an ambassador to distant lands. On his journey north he encounters a band of Viking warriors, whose ways offend him at first, and their leader Buliwyf. When word comes that a king's realm is being ravaged by monstrous, man-like creatures that leave only bones behind, a seer declares that thirteen warriors must stand against them, and that the thirteenth must be a foreigner. Ahmed, the outsider, is drawn into the company and its mission into the north.
The film is an adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel Eaters of the Dead, blending the historical account of the real tenth-century traveler Ahmad ibn Fadlan with the Beowulf legend. John McTiernan directed and produced, working from a screenplay by William Wisher and Warren Lewis; Michael Crichton and Ned Dowd also produced. Antonio Banderas plays Ahmed, with Omar Sharif as his mentor Melchisidek, Vladimir Kulich as Buliwyf, Dennis Storhøi as Herger and Diane Venora as Queen Weilew. It was McTiernan's ninth film as director, following The Thomas Crown Affair the same year and preceding Rollerball.
Made for about 120 million dollars, it took in roughly 62 million worldwide, a significant shortfall against its cost. On IMDb it holds 6.6 from about 139,000 votes, and on TMDB 6.7 from some 2,100, while the critics' rating stands at 5.3 from 89 reviews, so audiences have been appreciably warmer toward it than reviewers.
What's left behind the scenes
- Omar Sharif was so disappointed with the finished film that he temporarily stopped acting.
- Filming took place from June 26 to November 1, 1997, in Canada. Additional filming was conducted in 1998 after negative reactions from audiences at test screenings.
- Ahmad ibn Fadlan was a real Arab poet and traveler who visited Northern Europe and left a written account of his journeys.
- Initially, the film was shot with a PG-13 rating and titled “Devourers of the Dead,” but after unsatisfactory test screenings, the premiere was postponed by more than a year. Michael Crichton personally took over reshoots. Ultimately, the producers decided to change the rating to R and rename the film.
- The film is based on Michael Crichton’s novel “Eaters of the Dead.”
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
