Gladiator II
Russell Crowe was notably not feature in Ridley Scott ’s extremely - anticipated sequelGladiator IIbut that does n’t mean he has been soundless about his absence seizure . Crowe won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Maximus in the original action epic , which make his lack of participation in the sequel even in a behind - the - scenes mental ability surprising AlthoughMaximus died at the ending of the originalGladiator , it was possible to featureMaxmius in the material body of dream , flashbacks , or spiritual presence in the film , even through a voice . Nevertheless , Crowe was not part of theGladiatorsequel whatsoever .
With the continuation confirmingPaul Mescal ’s Lucius is the son of Maximus , the legacy of Maximus played a meaning rolein the eye of his boy . However , even with a gifted doer like Mescal in the leading character as well as a scene - stealing endure public presentation from Denzel Washington , Crowe ’s absence in the movie was experience in many way especially . While Crowe himself has remained in use with his own playacting role , he has commented on being left out of the sequel .
Russell Crowe Was Uncomfortable With Gladiator 2 Happening Without Maximus
The Original Film Has A Deeply Nostalgic Place In Crowe’s Storied Acting Career
Russell Crowe broke his muteness on not being inGladiator IIduring an interview withKyle Meredith With … in June 2024 , reveal that it made him " slimly uncomfortable . " He would go to expand by sayinghe felt naturally protective of the film and its legacy , especially touch to his glorified Maximus fiber . Crowe revealed :
" I ’m slenderly uncomfortable , the fact that they ’re making another one , you lie with ? Because of course , I ’m idle , and I have no say in what gets done . "
This comes as no surprise consider how impactful the original film was not only to Crowe ’s acting calling but also to Hollywood and shoot chronicle at large . Crowe continue :
" A couple of things that I ’ve get wind , I ’m care , ‘ No , no , no . That ’s not in the moral journeying of that particular grapheme . But you know , I ca n’t say anything . That ’s not my place . "
Crowe , now 60 , also admit the nostalgic character of the originalGladiatorin the June interview :
" I reflect back on the age I was when I made that film and all the thing that came after it and the doors that particular movie give for me . So there ’s definitely a speck — and this is just being strictly good — a pinch of melancholy , a tinge of jealousy . Because I commend when I had tendons . "
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Russell Crowe Was Never Asked To Return In Gladiator 2
Scott Found No Reason To Consult Crowe Given Maximus’s Death
Russell Crowe was never formally necessitate by Ridley Scott to returnto the growth and yield ofGladiator IIin any content . Crowe revealed inScreen Rantback in 2020during an audience about his then - upcoming movieUnhingedthat he had not been contacted when development onGladiator IIwas startle to seriously pluck up .
" If they ’re have conversations about that , those conversations have n’t included me . I ’m not sure what they have in mind . At all … Can I just say , with a pinch of table salt , they have truly been having the same conversations since the yr 2000 . ”
Known for openly verbalise his often blunt perspectives , Ridley Scott recently explain toEmpirein September why he never reckon about consulting Crowe forGladiator II .
" The plot , frankly , was right under our olfactory organ . I think it was so close under our noses that we call back it was too simple . "
Scott also must have missed Crowe ’s " uncomfortable " commentfrom June , hint that he is , or at least should be all right with not being include in the continuation :
" I think [ Crowe is ] still one of the good actors in the earth , and I think we have a good kinship . I desire we do . As long as he does n’t depart bitching about how he was n’t consulted . Why would I ? He ’s dead ! ”
Russell Crowe Wished Paul Mescal Luck In Leading Gladiator 2
Mescal Never Contacted Crowe When Preparing For His Lucius Character
Crowe was entirely get out in the shadow about his place ( or miss therefrom ) inGladiator IIduring a2023 audience withThe Ryan Tubridy Showon RTÉ Radio OnepromotingThe Pope ’s Exorcist , tell :
" I ’m sure at some point in clock time they ’ll want to ask me about something , but they have n’t impart anything up in a while , "
Crowe did seem to be aware of the unlikeliness of his involvement in the productionat that point after motion-picture photography begin onGladiator IIin May of last yr .
" It ’s an filename extension of the narrative , but it is prospicient beyond Maximus ’ expiration , so it does n’t really take me at all , "
Crowe also took the chance to wishMescal estimable luck in what is border to be a career - launch role for him , much like it was for Crowe . " I listen that vernal fella Paul is a effective dude and I wish him the better of luck with it . " The more than two decades that have pass sinceGladiatorfirst reach theaters have give Crowe in a reflective and melancholic frame of creative thinker about the film , which he did not carry during its output .
" I do n’t want to dwell on it too much because it does take me back to a catamenia of time when obviously I was importantly younger . And you fuck , the rose - colored spyglass of that experience now are dead crystalize . I look back on it and I loved every second of it , and that was n’t actually the case at the metre . "
Russell Crowe Didn’t Like The Original Gladiator 2 Script
Gladiator producer Doug Wick wanted Maxmius to return from the dead
Despite abizarre pitch by musician Nick Caveto haveGladiator 2feature a time - traveling element that would enable a resurrected Maxmius to fight Jesus Christ and go on to fight in World War II , Crowe was seemingly never offer a serious script for the continuation . The concept of Maxmius returning from the dead was play around withmore earnestly byGladiatorproducer Douglas Wick , which Crowe was reportedly not a fan of . Crowe revealed in a 2020 interview ,
" Last meter I talk to Doug , he say he had this great idea where Maximus gets carried from the stadium and they pull back this heavy rock and he gets put into this cave and then the rock close over and he ’s anointed with oil . And then the rock opens up and he fall out . And I said , " Doug , I do n’t think we have the rights to that write up . But that was a retentive , recollective metre ago and I do n’t reckon he appreciated my good sense of sense of humour at the time . "
Despite Crowe ’s reaction to this idea , Wick is one of the producer on the officialGladiator II .
Did Gladiator 2 Need The Connection To Maximus?
Maximus' Legacy Loomed Too Large In The Sequel
Despite Russell Crowe not being found anywhere inGladiator II , the sequel certainly incline hard on the memory of Maximus . Along with Paul Mescal ’s Lucius being let out as the boy of the fabled prizefighter , Pedro Pascal ’s General Acacius is reveal to have develop under Maximus when he was a Roman general . Beyond that , the legend of Maximus is speak about throughout the movie with Lucius mimicking some of Maximus ' most famous tactics and line as well as get into his armour in the motion-picture show ’s climax .
Gladiator II’s Critical & Audience Response
Rotten Tomatoes
71 %
IMDb
6.6/10
Metacritic
64/100
Letterboxd
3.3/5
However , these aspects of the movie were often pointed at in reviews and audience reaction as weighing the movie down . Gladiator IIwas criticizedas being shackled to the memory of Maximus so much that it was ineffective to abide on its own . Indeed , with Lucius being put so directly in Maximus ' trace , Mescal does n’t really have an opportunity to glisten on his own . While Mescal is a terrific actor , many critic find he did n’t have the charisma to carry the film in the style Crowe did and the way Maximus hover so gravid only absorb more comparisons .
It was generally agree that many of the best moment inGladiator IIcame from Ridley Scott ’s fun fixed pieces . With Denzel Washington also being seen as a highlight of the movie , despite bear no ties to Maximus , it seems that the sequel could have only been a totally separate prizefighter level dealing with solely new reference . With Maximus ’s death preventing Crowe from returning , a disjoined story makes even more sense as Maximus would not have necessitate to be such a heavy part of the subsequence .
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Cast
Gladiator 2 is the follow - up to Ridley Scott ’s award - succeed film Gladiator from 2000 . Scott retort to aim the sequel , with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius , alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta . Gladiator 2 had been stuck in developing hell for years before a script write by David Scarpa finally move forward .
