Yahoo News Russell Crowe says Gladiator 2 should be 'f---ing paying' him for all the questions he gets about it
Russell Crowe is not entertained by the barrage of questions he's been fielding about the Gladiator sequel.
The actor, who won an Oscar for his role as Maximus in the original 2000 film, revealed during a recent press conference at the 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival that he would like to be excluded from the Gladiator 2 narrative going forward — or, at the very least, properly compensated for it.
"They should be f---ing paying me for the amount of questions I get asked about the f---ing film that I am not even in," he said, per The Hollywood Reporter. "I don't know anything about the cast. I don't know anything about the plot."
DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett Collection Russell Crowe in 'Gladiator'
It makes sense that Crowe likely wouldn't be involved in the upcoming project since — spoiler alert — his character dies at the end of the first film. "In that world, I'm dead, six feet under," he said. "And that's that."
Still, Crowe maintained that if original director Ridley Scott "has decided to do a second part," then it must be for some "really strong reasons." He added, "I couldn't think of that movie being less than absolutely spectacular."
He also echoed previous remarks he'd made that hearing news of a second installment did, honestly, bring "a certain tinge of jealousy" along with it. Crowe explained that, in the two decades since its release, Gladiator has come to personally represent both his "youth" and a very special time in his life.
He'd also love the opportunity to work with Scott again in the future. "We haven't made a movie together for quite a while now. That's not intentional — it's just the way it's worked out," Crowe recalled, per Deadline. "But we've made — what is it? — five movies together. I've said this many times over the years, but there's no better set for an actor like me to be on than one of Ridley Scott's. He has the intellect that allows you to fully collaborate. He has the true, pure spirit of an artist."
Now, a new roster of actors are gearing up to head into the arena for Gladiator 2. Paul Mescal will star as Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and nephew of Commodus, who was previously played on screen by Spencer Treat Clark. The Academy Award–nominated actor will be accompanied on his hero's journey by Nielsen, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn, May Calamawy, Derek Jacobi, and Fred Hechinger.
Gladiator 2 is set to hit theaters Nov. 22, 2024.
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