Ridley Scott Never Consulted Russell Crowe on ‘Gladiator 2’ and Hopes the Actor ‘Doesn’t Start B—-ing About’ It: ‘Why Would I? He’s Dead!’
variety.comZack Sharf Digital News Director Russell Crowe has repeatedly stated that neither Ridley Scott nor anyone involved with “Gladiator 2” reached out to him to consult on the upcoming sequel considering the follow-up’s storyline has little to do with the character he played in the 2000 original.
Crowe won an Oscar for “Gladiator,” but his character, Maximus, died at the end of the movie. Scott recently told Empire magazine (via ScreenRant) that he hopes his relationship with Crowe is still in good shape after not reaching out about “Gladiator 2.” “The plot, frankly, was right under our noses,” Scott said about the sequel. “I think it was so close under our noses that we thought it was too simple.
I think [Russell Crowe] is still one of the best actors in the world, and I think we have a good relationship. I hope we do.
As long as he doesn’t start bitching about how he wasn’t consulted. Why would I? He’s dead!” There was a time when Scott contemplated bringing Crowe’s Maximus back from the dead for “Gladiator 2,” but the story ideas were often deemed too “ridiculous” to put into production.
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