Properly, we now know of 1 high-profile one that was very a lot not entertained, no less than. Ridley Scott’s long-awaited legacy sequel “Gladiator II” form of got here and went final 12 months. It was principally saved by a scene-stealing Denzel Washington, however in any other case, Scott’s movie earned a muted reception from critics and audiences alike — a stark distinction from its personal apparent awards ambitions and its predecessor’s sterling exhibiting on the Oscars in 2001. We are able to depend “Gladiator” main man Russell Crowe amongst those that got here away considerably lower than impressed, apparently, because the star is lastly opening up about his ideas on precisely what he felt went fallacious.
Though he died on the finish of Scott’s authentic 2000 film, Crowe’s Maximus got here surprisingly near showing in “Gladiator II” earlier than the thought was in the end rejected. So, that will, partially, clarify why the Oscar-winning Crowe is not pulling any punches in relation to the follow-up movie. In an interview with the Australian radio program Triple J (by way of The Playlist), Crowe bluntly acknowledged his criticisms of “Gladiator II” with out ever really naming the film — although it isn’t precisely delicate, in fact. Because it seems, his points weren’t essentially with the sequel’s technical points or screenplay, however one thing rather more particular (and private) than that. I will let him take it away from right here:
“I believe the current sequel that, you realize, we do not have to call out loud, is a extremely unlucky instance of even the individuals in that engine room not really understanding what made the primary one particular. It wasn’t the pomp. It wasn’t the circumstance. It wasn’t the motion. It was the ethical core.”
Russell Crowe has a degree in relation to his greatest difficulty with Gladiator II
Russell Crowe has famously had a fancy relationship along with his position within the first “Gladiator” movie, even because the blockbuster formally landed him on the map for good and turned him into one of the acclaimed (and worthwhile) actors on the market. He as soon as referred to the script as “garbage,” for one notable instance, however clearly holds fond recollections of each his experiences throughout manufacturing and the character of Maximus himself. Contemplating how a lot he fought to guard the protagonist throughout filming, it is simple to know his quite prickly emotions in the direction of how the sequel reframes his earlier actions.
Look no additional than Paul Mescal’s Lucius, our new hero in “Gladiator II,” who seems to be the illegitimate son of each Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla and Maximus himself. This controversial twist can not help however tarnish Maximus’ legacy, because the timeline of occasions would’ve required our noble hero to have cheated on his spouse — you realize, the identical one who finally ends up tragically murdered within the authentic movie, setting off Maximus’ whole quest for revenge within the first place. In line with Crowe, this was one thing he stridently opposed throughout manufacturing on “Gladiator.” He went on to elucidate:
“The factor is, there was a every day battle on that set. It was a every day battle to maintain that ethical core of the character. The quantity of occasions they prompt intercourse scenes and stuff like that for Maximus, it is like, you are taking away his energy. So, you are saying on the similar time he had this relationship along with his spouse, he was f***ing this different woman? What are you speaking about? It is loopy.”
Ridley Scott already has plans for a “Gladiator III” … however let’s possibly not inform Crowe that.
