The V.I.P.s
In August 1962, it was reported that Alec Guinness had been cast Marcus Aurelius, while Richard Harris, Albert Finney, John Gielgud, Terence Stamp were being considered for other roles. Later that same month, it was reported that Harris had been cast as Commodus. However, in January 1963, he was replaced by Christopher Plummer who had pulled out of "The V.I.P.s" (1963) to do so. Harris would later play the role of Marcus Aurelius in the similarly themed 2000 film "Gladiator". By the time filming was set to begin, Anthony Quayle, Omar Sharif, John Ireland, and Mel Ferrer had been cast in supporting roles.