The resurrection that never was: Crowe's bid to revive Maximus
Although Russell Crowe did not appear in the sequel to "Gladiator", the actor attempted to return to the role of Maximus. Director Ridley Scott revealed the details of these efforts in a recent interview.
25 November 2024 18:13
The director admitted to "People" magazine that about 18 years ago, he and Crowe tried to resurrect the character of Maximus. "I had Nick Cave writing the script and kept telling Russell, 'But you're dead.' And he would reply, 'I know I'm dead. And I want to return from the dead,'" Scott explained.
Crowe hired Nick Cave to write the continuation. According to a BBC article, Crowe asked him to solve the issue of his death in the new film. In the sequel, Maximus was to wake up in a purgatory full of Roman gods who offered him a mission of revenge in exchange for reuniting with his family. The plot was supposed to move through various eras, showing Maximus fighting in the Crusades, World Wars, and even Vietnam.
After reading the script, Crowe simply stated, "I don't like it, mate." Cave admitted, "I really enjoyed writing it because I knew there was no way it would ever be made."
Scott also had his idea for Maximus's return through a "portal" that would have allowed the hero's spirit to enter another warrior. "The only way was to move to another battle and bring him back to life through a dying warrior," explained the director. However, Crowe was not interested in this, as casting a new actor would be required. "It doesn't make any sense, does it?" Russell remembered Scott's reactions.
"Gladiator 2" without Maximus
Ultimately, work on the sequel began in 2018, and Scott committed to its completion in 2022. "Gladiator II" focused on the adult Lucius (Paul Mescal), the son of Maximus and Lucilla. Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi returned to the film, and the cast also included Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Fred Hechinger, and Joseph Quinn.
Russell Crowe previously admitted that he felt "a bit uneasy" about the sequel without his involvement. "I can't say anything, it's not my affair, I'm six feet under. We'll see how it goes," the actor commented. Ridley Scott, on the other hand, stated firmly, "I think Crowe is still one of the best actors in the world, and I believe we have a good relationship. I hope that's the case. Until he starts complaining that he wasn't brought back, why would I do that? He's dead!"
