Exclusive: Russell Crowe Takes a Stand – Demands a Paycheck for Gladiator Sequel!

Russell Crowe is infuriated by the continuous inquiries he faces regarding Gladiator 2, a film in which he does not appear and has no involvement with. The original Gladiator, released in 2000, propelled Crowe to the pinnacle of Hollywood, earning him an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of General Maximus turned gladiator. Director Ridley Scott is now returning to the ancient Roman world for a highly anticipated sequel, decades after Gladiator dominated both the box office and awards season. However, as Crowe's character met his demise in the original film, he will not be partaking in Gladiator 2. Although audiences may be thrilled by news of Scott's long-delayed sequel, Crowe, who portrayed Maximus, expresses nothing but frustration towards the movie, especially regarding the persistent questions he receives about it. During his appearance at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival (via ScreenDaily), Crowe made it abundantly clear that he is far from entertained when confronted with inquiries about Gladiator 2. Read his remarks below.

Crowe Almost Starred In A Bonkers Gladiator Sequel

Prior to the formulation of the current iteration of Gladiator 2, an alternative concept for a sequel centered around the revival of Maximus, the character portrayed by Crowe who met his demise. In a recent interview with the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Crowe elaborated on Maximus' resurrection.

He finds himself trapped between two worlds and the plans we had to bring him back to Earth were valid and exciting, but they required everyone to be on board. Unfortunately, I was preoccupied and didn't dedicate enough time to it.

Scott and his team eventually decided to move forward without me, creating a new Gladiator 2 focused on Lucius, the son of Maximus' former lover Lucilla. Paul Mescal takes on the role of Lucius, joined by returning actors Nielsen and Djimon Hounsou, as well as newcomers Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, and Joseph Quinn.

Despite no longer being involved in the Gladiator universe, Crowe has expressed positive thoughts about Scott's sequel. In an interview on The Ryan Tubridy Show, Crowe praised the decision to focus on Lucius, considering it a clever choice within the established film's world. While Crowe harbors no ill feelings towards Scott or anyone working on Gladiator 2, he does take issue with journalists persistently questioning him about a project he has no personal connection to. The actor has made it clear that he would rather discuss his own ventures, such as the upcoming music documentary Last Breath and the historical film Nuremberg. Source: ScreenDaily