Nearly two months after Gladiator 2 was confirmed to be happening with Oscar-nominated actor Paul Mescal, original Gladiator star Russell Crowe has confirmed that he is not involved with the project.
Crowe played Maximus, a former Roman general who was sold into slavery after his family was murdered, who fought to get revenge on the emperor who destroyed his family.
The film was both a commercial ($503 million worldwide) and a critical success, winning five Oscars, including one for Crowe for Best Actor and another for Best Picture.
A sequel had been talked about for over two decades, though now it’s finally moving forward with Gladiator director Ridley Scott returning to direct and Paul Mescal (Aftersun) starring as Lucius, Commodus’ (Joaquin Phoenix) nephew and son of Lucilla (Connie). Nielsen) from the original film.
Crowe, 58, revealed on The Ryan Turbidy Show that he’s not working on a sequel, though he wishes Mescal “the best of luck.”
Paul: Nearly two months after Gladiator 2 was confirmed to be happening with Oscar-nominated actor Paul Mescal, original Gladiator star Russell Crowe has confirmed he’s not involved with the project.
Russell as Maximus: Crowe played Maximus, a former Roman general who was sold into slavery after his family was murdered, who fought to get revenge on the emperor who destroyed his family.
“I’m sure they’ll want to ask me about something at some point, but they haven’t mentioned anything in a long time,” Crowe explained.
“It’s an extension of the narrative, but it goes way beyond the passing of Maximus, so it doesn’t really involve me at all,” the actor explained.
He added that he heard, “That young Paul is a good guy and I wish him the best of luck with that.”
“I think where they’re getting the story from, a young Lucius, assuming the role of emperor. I think it’s a very smart idea within the world of the film that we created,” Crowe admitted.
While he’s not involved, he said many of his friends will likely be working on the film, adding, “I already know designers and leather workers who make the armor and things like that.”
“I don’t want to dwell on that too much because it takes me back to a time period when I was obviously significantly younger. And you know, the rose-colored crystals from that experience are now perfectly crystallized,” Crowe admitted.
“I look back and I loved every minute of it, and that wasn’t the case at the time,” the actor reflected.
“I like being on a period movie set. Going into those kinds of costumes and those kinds of situations and things, it has great appeal to me,” the actor added.
At some point: “I’m sure at some point they’re going to want to ask me about something, but they haven’t mentioned anything in a long time,” Crowe explained.
Maximus: “It’s an extension of the narrative, but it goes way beyond the passing of Maximus, so it doesn’t really involve me at all,” the actor explained.
Story: ‘I think where they’re getting the story from, a young Lucius, assuming the role of emperor. I think it’s a very smart idea within the world of the film that we created,” Crowe admitted.
“There’s a slight edge of jealousy that people have that experience that I once had,” he admitted.
Mescal was reported to join the sequel in January, with Denzel Washington and Barry Keoghan also signing on in unspecified roles.
Paramount has already issued a November 22, 2024 release date for the sequel, though it’s unclear when filming may begin.
David Scarpa (All the Money in the World) is writing the script for the sequel, which Ridley Scott will direct.
Scott will also produce with Michael Pruss through director Scott Free’s company, along with Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher through Red Wagon Entertainment.
Crowe will be out of four films in 2022: Thor: Love and Thunder, Prizefighter: The Life of Jem Belcher, The Greatest Beer Run Ever and Poker Face, the last of which Crowe also directed.
He will next be seen in The Pope’s Exorcist, playing the Vatican’s real-life chief exorcist, Gabriele Amorth, based on his royal archives, which hits theaters on April 7.
The actor also stars in The Georgetown Project and Kraven the Hunter, with several other projects in development.
Jealousy: “There’s a slight touch of jealousy that people have that experience that I once had,” he admitted.
Joining: Mescal was reported to be joining the sequel in January, with Denzel Washington and Barry Keoghan also signing on in unspecified roles.