A Gladiator sequel is in development, some 23 years after the first movie released in 2000 and won multiple Oscars. The star of the original, Russell Crowe, has now commented on the sequel, saying he doesn’t know much about the story but feels “slightly jealous” about it.
Speaking to Collider, the actor said he’s excited that director Ridley Scott is coming back for the sequel because the director probably has some ideas about what he can do better with the sequel. Crowe said he believes Scott will attempt to create the “same level of spectacle” as the original Gladiator.
Crowe’s character, Maximus, died in the original Gladiator so he won’t be coming back for the sequel. Crowe said he feels “slightly jealous” that the movie is going forward and spoke about how the original film changed his life.
“I was a much younger man, obviously, and it was a huge experience in my life. It’s something that changed my life, really,” he said. “It changed the way people regarded me and what I do for a living, and, you know, I’ve been very lucky to be involved in lots of big movies, but the legs on that film are incredible. Here it is, it’s 2023, and we made that film in 1999. I guarantee you, somewhere around the world tonight, Gladiator is going to be showing on primetime TV. And you don’t always get that kind of longevity with every film you do, so, it obviously holds a special place in my heart.”
Crowe won his first and only Academy Award for Gladiator in a role that he is still remembered best for. The film won four other Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The “Are you not entertained?” line from Maximus is quoted and memed often to this day.
As for Gladiator 2, it stars Paul Mescal in the lead role, along with Denzel Washington in another leading part. Plot details for Gladiator 2 remain under wraps. What we do know, however, is that the screenplay was written by David Scarpa (All the Money in the World, Man in the High Castle). The movie hits theaters in November 2024.
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