Russell Crowe reveals that he feels ‘slightly jealous’ about upcoming highly anticipated Gladiator 2

Russell Crowe revealed that he is “slightly jealous” of the upcoming long-awaited Gladiator sequel set to release in 2024 from director Ridley Scott.

The 59-year-old actor in a recent interview with Collider was asked what he would like to see in the next installment by English director Scott, 85, who directed the original 2000 film.

“I don’t really know where they’re going with it. I’m sure that [there have] things been going on [Scott’s] guess the last 24 years he thinks he can probably do better or something. I think that’s definitely one of the positives, that it’s Ridley, because he’s going to want to go back to that world and create something. [on] same level of spectacle as the first,” Crowe said.

He added, “I mean, look, all I really feel about it is a little jealous, you know? Because, of course, I was a much younger man, and it was a huge experience in my life. It really is something that has changed my life. It changed the way people looked at me and what I do for a living, and you know, I’ve been very lucky to be involved in a lot of big movies, but the legs in that movie are incredible. Here it is, it’s 2023 and we made that movie in 1999.”

“I guarantee Gladiator will be on primetime TV somewhere in the world tonight. And you don’t always get that longevity with every film you make, so obviously it has a special place in my heart,” Crowe concluded.

Crowe portrayed Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius in the original and won the Best Actor Oscar for his work in the film.

He confirmed on The Ryan Turbidy Show last month that he was not working on the sequel starring Irish actor Paul Mescal, 27.

“I’m sure they’ll want to ask me about something at some point, but they haven’t brought up anything in a while,” Crowe said.

“It’s an extension of the story, but it goes way beyond Maximus’ passing, so I’m not really involved,” he explained.

Crowe added that he heard, ‘that young fellow Paul is a good fellow and I wish him the best of luck with it.’

“I think where they get the story from, a young Lucius stepping into the role of Emperor. I think that’s a really smart idea within the world of the film we’ve made,” Crowe said.

Last month, it was reported that Denzel Washington, 68, had joined the cast of the highly anticipated sequel.

Gladiator 2 is scheduled to release in theaters on November 22, 2024.

Crowe can next be seen in the upcoming horror film The Pope’s Exorcist which will hit theaters Friday.

Oscar winner: Crowe portrayed Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius in the original and won the Best Actor Oscar for his work in the film

Sequel: Screened in London last week, Paul Mescal will star in the Gladiator sequel