Russell Crowe wanted to keep the spectators entertained.
While he was the Oscar-winning star in 2000 Gladiator Not in the follow-up film, he tried valiantly to be. According to Helmer Ridley Scott, Crowe wanted to reprise his character Maximus, the brave Colosseum fighter who expires at the end of the original saga.
“Russell and I have been experimenting with this for about 18 years,” Scott said. the people In a recent interview. “I asked Nick Cave to write the script and I kept saying so [to Russell]”But you're dead.” He said: I know I am dead. “And I want to come back from the dead.”
In fact, according to a 2018 BBC article, Crowe commissioned musician Nick Cave to write a sequel, which allegedly required the writer to “sort through.” [his death] Out” in the new film. In the never-made sequel, Maximus wakes up in a purgatory full of Roman gods who enlist his services in a revenge plot against another god in exchange for a reunion with his long-dead family (which Maximus longs for in the first film). The plot continues to swing chaotically through time and multiple levels of reality, as Maximus returns to the land of the living and is depicted fighting in the Crusades, the World Wars, and Vietnam.
Crowe's response, according to Cave, was succinct: “You don't like that, mate.” However, the writer said, “I enjoyed writing it so much because I knew on every level that it would never be done.” In an interesting tidbit, the canceled sequel also featured an adult Lucius – just as an antagonist.
At the time, Scott also said he had chosen “which gate to bring in.” [Maximus] “He came back from the dead,” he explained, “the only way to do that is to go to another battle and through a dying warrior, return to the warrior's soul. This is his portal.”
But the idea didn't work for Crowe because it still required casting a new actor in the role. And he said, “So that's not good, is it?” “It didn't really work out Alien The director remembers.
Ultimately, work on a proper sequel didn't begin until 2018, with Scott committed to making it his next film in 2022. But hey, Rome wasn't built in a day.
in GladiatorMaximus is a former Roman general and slave who was forced to fight for his life in the Colosseum. After killing the tyrannical Roman Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) and rescuing his former lover Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), he succumbs to his injuries before the film ends. The second wrestler It follows the now-adult Lucius (Paul Mescal), the son of Maximus and Lucilla, who faces a similar hero's journey as he seeks revenge on the Roman Empire while trying to restore democratic principles.
Nielsen and Derek Jacobi are the only stars from the original film to reprise their roles, as the new film also stars Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn.
Since its theatrical debut on November 22, the film has been part of the theatrical event “Glicked” opposite Jon M. Chu. evil – Helped generate $205 million at box office before Thanksgiving, the most in 11 years.
Scott has previously discussed Crowe's lack of involvement in the follow-up, candidly saying: “I think so [Crowe is] He's still one of the best actors in the world, and I think we have a good relationship. I hope we do that. As long as he didn't start whining about how he wasn't consulted. Why would I? He's dead!”
For his part, Crowe noted earlier this year that he was “a little uncomfortable” with the prospect of a sequel, given his lack of say: “I can't say anything, it's not my place, I'm six feet away. So we'll see how it goes.”
leads to The second wrestlerAt the film's premiere, Scott announced that he had “got a pretty good imprint” on the trilogy series. Unfortunately for Crowe, it likely won't include him either.
