Russell Crowe has spoken about Ridley Scott‘s Gladiator 2, revealing that he’s “slightly uncomfortable” that a sequel is being made.
Speaking to Kyle Meredith, Crowe said: “I’m slightly uncomfortable with the fact they’re making another one — because, of course, I’m dead and I have no say in what gets done. But a couple of the things I’ve heard I’m like ‘No, no, no, that’s not in the moral journey of that particular character’. But I can’t say anything, it’s not my place, I’m six foot under. So we’ll see what that is like.”
Watch Crowe’s comments on ‘Gladiator 2’ at the 33:10 mark below.
Crowe continued: “I reflect back: the age I was when I made that film and all the things that came after it, the doors that particular movie opened for me. This is just me being purely honest: there’s definitely a tinge of melancholy, a tinge of jealousy. I remember when I had tendons.”
Crowe starred in 2000’s Gladiator as Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is betrayed and enslaved as a gladiator. He fights his way up the ranks to avenge the murders of his family and the emperor.
Gladiator 2 will star Paul Mescal in the lead, the sequel will focus on Lucius, the son of Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla from the first film. Nielsen will be reprising her role, and the cast will also be joined by Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington and Stranger Things actor Joseph Quinn.
Gladiator 2 is due to release on November 22 globally.
In January, Mescal shared his concern about the fame which may come with the epic sequel. Speaking to The Sunday Times, the Irish actor said about the film’s upcoming release: “I don’t know what the difference will be. Maybe that’s naive? Is it just that more people will stop you in the street?”
He continued: “I’d get profoundly depressed if that’s so and hope it isn’t true. I’ll have an answer next year, but if [the film] impacts my life in that way, I’ll be in a bad spot. I’d have to move on and do an obtuse play nobody wants to see.”