Although Russell Crowe won an Oscar for his role as Maximus in the cult “Gladiator” (2000), his character did not appear in the latest sequel. However, the actor did everything to return to his beloved role. As director Ridley Scott admitted in an interview with People magazine, Crowe had been trying to bring Maximus to life for years.
“Russell and I tried it about 18 years ago,” Scott revealed. “I asked Nick Cave to write the script, but I kept telling (Russell): ‘But you’re dead’. And he said: ‘I know. I want to come back from the dead'”.
In fact, in 2018, the BBC revealed that Nick Cave had written a version of the script in which Maximus was reborn in a purgatory full of Roman gods. The story saw the warrior being sent on a mission of revenge to ultimately be reunited with his family. The script weaved Maximus into various historical eras, up to contemporary conflicts.
“I don’t like it, mate,” Crowe reportedly said, although Cave admitted that working on the text was pure fantasy, because “it was known that it would never happen”.
Ultimately, the sequel to Gladiator was launched only in 2018, and the premiere of Gladiator II took place on November 22, 2024. The film tells the story of adult Lucius (Paul Mescal), the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), who follows in his father’s footsteps, facing the Roman empire.
Scott has assembled an impressive cast, including Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn, with Nielsen and Derek Jacobi returning from the original cast. The film had already grossed $205 million before Thanksgiving, becoming the biggest hit in over a decade.
Despite his success, Scott is open about Crowe’s absence: “Russell is still one of the best actors in the world. I hope our relationship remains good, but… why would I consult him? His character is dead!”
Crowe also commented on his lack of commitment: “It’s not my story, I’m six feet under. We’ll see how they go.”
See also: “Wicked” dominates the box office. “Gladiator II” is hot on its heels