Trivia / Gods and Generals

• Adaptation Sequence: Actual Events —> Book —> Movie —> Video Game.
• Billing Displacement: Jeff Daniels (Chamberlain) for the Theatrical Version; despite being the top-billed actor, Stephen Lang (Jackson) had far, far more screentime than him. In the director's cut, however, both characters get about an equal amount, and either one of them could be seen as the film's protagonist, so the trope is averted here.
• Box Office Bomb: Budget, $56 million. Box office, $12,923,936.
• Creator Backlash: When the theatrical version was released, quite a few people involved with it admitted Gods and Generals wasn't the film they were hoping it would be, Jeff Shaara and Ronald Maxwell included.
• Creator Killer:
  • Director Ronald Maxwell did not direct another film for a full decade.
  • This would be the only film from Ted Turner Pictures, and the last project of Ted Turner's media career.
• Deleted Role: Chris Conner was cast as John Wilkes Booth, but his scenes were removed from the theatrical release. These scenes would eventually be reinstated for the director's cut.
• Executive Meddling: The original cut ran for 5 hours. During post-production, Ronald Maxwell, Ted Turner and executives from Warner Bros. discussed the possibilities of releasing the film. While Warner Bros. suggested Gods & Generals would be released over two films, Maxwell decided to focus on Stonewall Jackson's history in one film and an hour-and-a-half of footage was trimmed down. It would later be restored in 2011 for the Blu-ray release.
• Franchise Killer: The theatrical version was such a critical and financial bomb that it killed Maxwell's original plan for a third movie, likely to be based on Jeff Shaara's novel The Last Full Measure, a follow-up to his father's book The Killer Angels.
• In Memoriam: A dedication to John F. Maxwell (Ronald Maxwell's father) and Royce Applegate (James Kemper's actor) appears in the ending credits.
• The Other Darrin: Five characters who first appeared in Gettysburg reappear in this film, each portrayed by a different actor.
  • Robert Duvall replaces Martin Sheen as Robert E. Lee due to Sheen's contractual obligations to The West Wing. Duvall is an actual descendant of the Lee family and looks a great deal more like the real Lee than Sheen. Duvall was actually the first choice to play Lee in Gettysburg but was unavailable at the time.
  • Billy Campbell replaces Stephen Lang as George Pickett, since Lang portrayed Stonewall Jackson. Campbell had played a 44th New York lieutenant in Gettysburg.
  • Bruce Boxleitner replaces Tom Berenger as General James Longstreet.
  • Due to Richard Jordan dying of brain cancer in 1993, John Prosky portrays Lewis Armistead.
  • Since Tim Scott succumbed to a heart attack in 1995, Jonathan Demers now plays Richard Ewell.
• The Other Marty: An odd example. Stephen Lang had begun to shoot scenes reprising his role as George Pickett from Gettysburg when he was replaced by Billy Campbell in the role... because Lang was chosen to play Stonewall Jackson instead.
• Posthumous Credit: Despite dying in a fire before the film's release, Royce Applegate is still credited for portraying James Kemper, having completed all of his scenes beforehand.
• Re-Cut: There's a Director's Cut available for home video that is significantly longer, since it restores many cut scenes.
• Role Reprise: With the exception of Tom Berenger (James Longstreet), Martin Sheen (Robert E. Lee), Richard Jordan (Lewis Armistead), and Timothy Scott (Richard Ewell), all of the original actors reprised their roles from Gettysburg.
• What Could Have Been:
  • Russell Crowe was the original choice to play Stonewall Jackson, but scheduling conflicts prevented him being available. Stephen Lang had begun to reprise his role as George Pickett from Gettysburg when he was asked to fill in the role of Jackson.
  • During post-production, Warner Bros. suggested that the film would be released in two parts. However, Maxwell decided to trim it down before it would be released in theaters.
• You Look Familiar:
  • Stephen Lang plays Stonewall Jackson, but in Gettysburg he appeared as George Pickett.
  • Billy Campbell had played a 44th New York lieutenant in Gettysburg before replacing Stephen Lang as George Pickett here.

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