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| Image Credit: Universal Pictures |
Russell Crowe has been on a roll in recent years, with the latest Spider-Man film, Kraven the Hunter, and the sequel to his lead film, The Exorcist, also confirmed. It is an undeniable fact that he is one of the best actors, but he seems to be a little unhappy about the sequel to his lead film, Gladiator (2000). He revealed his true feelings in the interview program "Kyle Meredith with...". Gladiator is a historical spectacle by master director Ridley Scott, depicting the fierce battles of revenge-seeking gladiators set in ancient Rome. Gladiator II, produced more than 20 years later, is set 25 to 30 years after the first film.
The main character will be Lucius (Paul Mescal), the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and nephew of Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), instead of Maximus, played by Crowe. Crowe was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Maximus, a Roman general who became a gladiator. However, when he rewatched the film after a long time, he felt confused by how small his contribution was. It seems that he still believes Scott deserves an Oscar, but he has mixed feelings about the sequel.
"I don't feel good about it... I mean, they're making another one, right? Of course, I'm dead, so I'm not in a position to say anything about what's been made, but I heard some things, and I was like, 'No, no, no, that's against the morality of that character.' But there's nothing I can say about it, because it's not my place, I'm dead, so I'll just see what it's like."
Crowe has previously said that he feels a little jealous of the sequel. Although he is humble and says that his contribution was insignificant, he has continued to appear in many films since then and has had a busy career, including injuries and wounds caused by filming. Even if the sequel to Gladiator cannot be performed again due to story reasons, he seems to feel a certain loneliness about a new story progressing without him.
"I remember the age I was when I appeared in that film, what happened afterward, and the door that film opened for me. But to be honest, there is definitely a certain melancholy and a certain jealousy. Because I remember that I had an Achilles heel at the time."
Gladiator II is scheduled to be released in the United States on November 22, 2024.