Ridley Scott on Not Consulting Russell Crowe for ‘Gladiator 2’: “Why?”

Ridley Scott is sharing insights about his relationship with Russell Crowe as the release of Gladiator II approaches later this year.

Crowe starred in the 2000 film directed by Scott, portraying Maximus Decimus Meridius, a role that earned him an Oscar in 2001. However, Crowe will not return for the sequel as his character dies in the original film.

“The plot, frankly, was right under our noses,” Scott revealed to Empire magazine regarding Gladiator II. “I think it was so close under our noses that we thought it was too simple.”

Scott 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 expressed his feelings about the Gladiator sequel on several occasions. In a recent interview on the Kyle Meredith With… podcast, he shared his discomfort about the project.

“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. “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.”

Reflecting on his career, Crowe admitted, “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 humorously added, “I remember when I had tendons.”

In a 2023 interview, Crowe acknowledged he felt “slightly jealous” about not being part of the sequel.

“The only thing that I really feel about it is slightly jealous, you know? Because I was a much younger man, obviously, and it was a huge experience in my life,” he told Collider. “It’s something that changed my life, really. It changed the way people regarded me and what I do for a living, and, you know, I’ve been very lucky to be involved in lots of big movies, but the legs on that film are incredible.”

The Gladiator sequel takes place years after the original film, with Paul Mescal taking on the role of Lucius, originally played by Spencer Treat Clark in the 2000 movie. Mescal will be portraying Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and the nephew of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix).

Gladiator II is set to premiere on November 22 in the U.S., featuring a star-studded cast that includes Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington, among others.

Source: Empire, Kyle Meredith With…, Collider