Russell Crowe was notably not featured in Ridley Scott’s highly-anticipated sequel Gladiator II but that doesn’t mean he has been silent about his absence. Crowe won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Maximus in the original action epic, which makes his lack of involvement in the sequel even in a behind-the-scenes capacity surprising Although Maximus died at the end of the original Gladiator, it was possible to feature Maxmius in the form of dreams, flashbacks, or spiritual presence in the film, even through a voice. Nevertheless, Crowe was not part of the Gladiator sequel whatsoever.

With the sequel confirming Paul Mescal’s Lucius is the son of Maximus, the legacy of Maximus played a significant role in the eyes of his son. However, even with a talented actor like Mescal in the leading role as well as a scene-stealing supporting performance from Denzel Washington, Crowe’s absence in the movie was felt in many ways especially. While Crowe himself has remained busy with his own acting roles, he has commented on being left out of the sequel.

Russell Crowe Was Uncomfortable With Gladiator 2 Happening Without Maximus

The Original Film Has A Deeply Nostalgic Place In Crowe’s Storied Acting Career

Russell Crowe broke his silence on not being in Gladiator II during an interview with Kyle Meredith With… in June 2024, revealing that it made him “slightly uncomfortable.” He would go to elaborate by saying he felt naturally protective of the film and its legacy, particularly pertaining to his glorified Maximus character. Crowe revealed:

“I’m slightly uncomfortable, the fact that they’re making another one, you know? Because of course, I’m ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, and I have no say in what gets done.”

This comes as no surprise considering how impactful the original film was not only to Crowe’s acting career but also to Hollywood and film history at large. Crowe continued:

“A couple of things that I’ve heard, I’m like, ‘No, no, no. That’s not in the moral journey of that particular character. But you know, I can’t say anything. That’s not my place.”

Crowe, now 60, also acknowledged the nostalgic quality of the original Gladiator in the June interview:

“I reflect back on the age I was when I made that film and all the things that came after it and the doors that particular movie opened for me. So there’s definitely a tinge — and this is just being purely honest — a tinge of melancholy, a tinge of jealousy. Because I remember when I had tendons.”

Russell Crowe Was Never Asked To Return In Gladiator 2

Scott Found No Reason To Consult Crowe Given Maximus’s Death

Russell Crowe was never formally asked by Ridley Scott to return to the development and production of Gladiator II in any capacity. Crowe revealed in Screen Rant back in 2020 during an interview about his then-upcoming movie Unhinged that he had not been contacted when development on Gladiator II was starting to seriously pick up.

“If they’re having conversations about that, those conversations haven’t included me. I’m not sure what they have in mind. At all… Can I just say, with a pinch of salt, they have genuinely been having the same conversations since the year 2000.”

Known for openly expressing his often blunt perspectives, Ridley Scott recently explained to Empire in September why he never thought about consulting Crowe for Gladiator II.

“The plot, frankly, was right under our noses. I think it was so close under our noses that we thought it was too simple.”

Scott also must have missed Crowe’s “uncomfortable” comment from June, suggesting that he is, or at least should be okay with not being included in the sequel:

“I think [Crowe is] still one of the best actors in the world, and I think we have a good relationship. I hope we do. As long as he doesn’t start bitching about how he wasn’t consulted. Why would I? He’s ᴅᴇᴀᴅ!”

Russell Crowe Wished Paul Mescal Luck In Leading Gladiator 2

Mescal Never Contacted Crowe When Preparing For His Lucius Character

Crowe was entirely left in the dark about his place (or lack thereof) in Gladiator II during a 2023 interview with The Ryan Tubridy Show on RTÉ Radio One promoting The Pope’s Exorcist, saying:

“I’m sure at some point in time they’ll want to ask me about something, but they haven’t brought anything up in a while,”

Crowe did seem to be aware of the unlikelihood of his involvement in the production at that point after filming began on Gladiator II in May of last year.

“It’s an extension of the narrative, but it is long beyond Maximus’ pᴀssing, so it doesn’t really involve me at all,”

Crowe also took the opportunity to wish Mescal good fortune in what is bound to be a career-launching role for him, much like it was for Crowe. “I hear that young fella Paul is a good dude and I wish him the best of luck with it.” The more than two decades that have pᴀssed since Gladiator first hit theaters have left Crowe in a reflective and melancholic frame of mind about the film, which he did not carry during its production.

“I don’t want to dwell on it too much because it does take me back to a period of time when obviously I was significantly younger. And you know, the rose-colored glᴀsses of that experience now are perfectly crystallized. I look back on it and I loved every minute of it, and that wasn’t actually the case at the time.”

Russell Crowe Didn’t Like The Original Gladiator 2 Script

Gladiator producer Doug Wick wanted Maxmius to return from the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ

Despite a bizarre pitch by musician Nick Cave to have Gladiator 2 feature a time-traveling element that would enable a resurrected Maxmius to fight Jesus Christ and go on to fight in World War II, Crowe was seemingly never offered a serious script for the sequel. The concept of Maxmius returning from the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ was toyed around with more seriously by Gladiator producer Douglas Wick, which Crowe was reportedly not a fan of. Crowe revealed in a 2020 interview,

“Last time I talked to Doug, he said he had this great idea where Maximus gets carried from the stadium and they pull back this big rock and he gets put into this cave and then the rock closes over and he’s anointed with oils. And then the rock opens up and he comes out. And I said, “Doug, I don’t think we have the rights to that story. But that was a long, long time ago and I don’t think he appreciated my sense of humor at the time.”

Despite Crowe’s reaction to this idea, Wick is one of the producers on the official Gladiator II.

Did Gladiator 2 Need The Connection To Maximus?

Maximus’ Legacy Loomed Too Large In The Sequel

Despite Russell Crowe not being found anywhere in Gladiator II, the sequel certainly leans heavily on the memory of Maximus. Along with Paul Mescal’s Lucius being revealed as the son of the legendary gladiator, Pedro Pascal’s General Acacius is revealed to have trained under Maximus when he was a Roman general. Beyond that, the legend of Maximus is talked about throughout the movie with Lucius mimicking some of Maximus’ most famous tactics and lines as well as donning his armor in the movie’s climax.

Gladiator II’s Critical & Audience Response

However, these aspects of the movie were often pointed at in reviews and audience reaction as weighing the movie down. Gladiator II was criticized as being shackled to the memory of Maximus so much that it was unable to stand on its own. Indeed, with Lucius being placed so directly in Maximus’ shadow, Mescal doesn’t really have an opportunity to shine on his own. While Mescal is a terrific actor, many critics felt he didn’t have the charisma to carry the movie in the way Crowe did and the way Maximus looms so large only drew more comparisons.

It was generally agreed that many of the best moments in Gladiator II came from Ridley Scott’s fun set pieces. With Denzel Washington also being seen as a highlight of the movie, despite having no ties to Maximus, it seems that the sequel could have simply been a completely separate gladiator story dealing with entirely new characters. With Maximus’s death preventing Crowe from returning, a separate story makes even more sense as Maximus would not have needed to be such a big part of the sequel.