Thanks to this royal intervention, the movie came to life — not in Somalia, but in Morocco.
Marrakech – Ridley Scott, the celebrated director behind “Gladiator I” and II, “Alien”, “Blade Runner”, “The Martian”, and “Thelma & Louise”, is no stranger to creating cinematic masterpieces.
With his latest success “Gladiator II”, winning hearts and critics alike, the filmmaker recently opened up in an interview with GQ Magazine about some of his most iconic works.
Among the films discussed was the gripping war movie Black Hawk Down (2001), set in Somalia.
As he reflected on the making of the movie, Scott shared a little-known story involving Morocco and even King Mohammed VI himself, whom the director had met during the production of “Kingdom of Heaven”.
“I had to ask the King of Morocco for help with Black Hawk Down,” Scott revealed.
“I told him, ‘I want to bring four Black Hawks and four Night Birds. But to do that, I need to bring 125 Rangers.’”
The filmmaker explained that having real US Army Rangers was non-negotiable, stating, “I couldn’t risk having my actors fast-rope out of helicopters. If someone fell, I’d be in trouble.”
Scott recalled that King Mohammed VI agreed to help but required a formal request from the Pentagon.
“He said he’d host the U.S. military and their equipment if the Pentagon sent a note. So, the King wrote to the Pentagon, which gave the green light and sent four Black Hawks, four Night Birds, and…2,505 Rangers.”
The film was shot over 90 days, primarily in Rabat and Sale, where the Sidi Moussa neighborhood doubled as Mogadishu’s downtown.
Additional scenes were filmed in Kenitra and Mehdia.
Scott’s story is a testament to the crucial behind-the-scenes efforts that make movie magic possible.
It’s not every day that a monarch steps in to facilitate a blockbuster production, but as the American director’s anecdote shows, King Mohammed VI’s support left an indelible mark on this Hollywood classic.
