Gladiator star Russell Crowe insists he knows nothing about Gladiator 2.
During his appearance at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival (Variety reported), Crowe complained that people kept asking him about the sequel even though he wasn’t in it.
“You should fucking pay me for the amount of questions I get asked about a movie I’m not in,” he said. “It has nothing to do with me. In this world I am dead. Six feet below the depth.”
At the end of Gladiator, it’s pretty clear: Maximus Decimus Meridius is dead. Crowe’s character succumbs to his wounds after a fight to the death in the Coliseum between him and Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix. And while it’s a fitting ending for the tragic character, Crowe admits he’s jealous of those who will be working with Scott on the upcoming sequel.
“I’ll admit to feeling a little jealous because it reminds me of when I was younger and what it meant to me in my life,” he said. However, Crowe claimed he had no idea who would star in the film.
“I don’t know anything about the cast, I don’t know anything about the plot,” he insisted. “I’m dead! But I know if Ridley decided to do a second part of the story over 20 years later, he must have had very good reasons for doing so. I can’t imagine this film doing anything but spectacular is.”
Gladiator 2 will reportedly star Paul Mescal, and while Barry Keoghan was originally set to play the real-life Emperor Geta, it looks like he’ll be replaced by Fred Hechinger due to scheduling issues.
Gladiator 2 hits theaters on November 22, 2024.
IGN’s Gladiator review gave it a 7/10, saying, “Gladiator has a lot to offer.” Oliver Reed is charismatic as Proximo. Richard Harris is absolutely captivating as Marcus Aurelius, the dying Roman emperor who blames Maximus for doing the right thing. Russell Crowe as Maximus is, well, Russell Crowe – always with a funky combination of weight, intensity and quiet dignity that make him one of cinema’s most compelling screen presences.”
Want to read more about Gladiator 2? Check out who else is in talks about the Gladiator sequel and the Gladiator 2 stunt that left several crew members injured.
Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can keep following him Twitter.