Ridley Scott On Not Consulting Russell Crowe For ‘Gladiator 2’: “Why Would I?”
deadline.comRidley Scott is opening up about his relationship with Russell Crowe ahead of Gladiator II’s premiere in theaters later this year.
Crowe starred in the 2000 film directed by Scott, in which he played Maximus Decimus Meridius. The actor, who won an Oscar in 2001 for his role in the Scott film, is not part of the sequel because his character tragically dies in the end. “The plot, frankly, was right under our noses,” Scott told Empire magazine about Gladiator II. “I think it was so close under our noses that we thought it was too simple.” He continued, “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. As long as he doesn’t start bitching about how he wasn’t consulted. Why would I? He’s dead!” Crowe has been open with his sentiments over the Gladiator sequel and recently commented on the film. “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 on the Kyle Meredith With… podcast. “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.” He continued, “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.
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