Why Russell Crowe wasn't consulted for Gladiator II

Director Ridley Scott has revealed why Russell Crowe wasn't consulted in the making of Gladiator II while discussing the film's upcoming release.

The two legends worked together in the 2000 film, which Scott directed and Crowe starred in as Maximus Decimus Meridius.

Crowe went on to win an Oscar in 2001 for his portrayal, but he won't be starring in the sequel.

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Scott spoke with Empire magazine to discuss the highly-anticipated release of Gladiator II: "The plot, frankly, was right under our noses," he said. 

"I think it was so close under our noses that we thought it was too simple."

He added, "I think [Crowe is] still one of the best actors in the world, and I think we have a good relationship. I hope we do.

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"As long as he doesn't start b****ing about how he wasn't consulted. Why would I? He's dead!"

Crowe recently spoke on the Kyle Meredith With… podcast, discussing the Gladiator sequel.

"I'm slightly uncomfortable with the fact they're making another one — because, of course, I'm dead and I have no say in what gets done," Crowe said.

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Everything to know about the cast of Gladiator I and II

"But a couple of the things I've heard I'm like — no, no, no, that's not in the moral journey of that particular character. But I can't say anything, it's not my place, I'm six foot under. So we'll see what that is like."

"It does, in a funny way — I reflect back: the age I was when I made that film and all the things that came after it, the doors that particular movie opened for me. 

"This is just me being purely honest: there's definitely a tinge of melancholy, a tinge of jealousy," he continued before joking, "I remember when I had tendons."

In a 2023 interview with Vanity Fair, Crowe reminisced on his thoughts when he first received the script.

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"At the core of what we were doing was a great concept, but the script, it was rubbish. Absolute rubbish," he said, adding that there were only 21 pages that both he and Scott could agree on.

He shared that he even considered quitting the film and flying home.

Eventually, he and Scott worked together to refine the story

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