Why didn't Russell Crowe want to return for Gladiator 2?

Russell Crowe worked hard to try and build both endurance and muscle for his role in Gladiator. He also engaged in a very rigorous training regime and followed a strict diet to try and achieve the physique required. He gave it his all, from martial arts training to weightlifting and sword fighting. That said, he’s openly said he doesn’t intend to reprise his role for the sequel.

Russell Crowe’s Rise to Fame
Although Russell Crowe is one of the biggest actors in Hollywood, he wasn’t always destined to be a movie star. Before his rise to fame, he worked in a bingo hall. During the 1980s, the height of bingo popularity, he called numbers as they were pulled from the machine. He also came up with humorous phrases when announcing the numbers, which didn’t sit well with his boss.

In New Zealand, the bingo format is the same as UK bingo, as there are 90 balls. The ticket has 15 numbers and three rows, giving Crowe plenty of opportunity to have some fun. Less than a decade later, Crowe starred in his first movie, The Crossing and Bingo moved online. Now there are several interesting variants to play, including Link Room and Cash Cubes, which makes the game more exciting while still having a live person calling the numbers.

Crowe has since reflected on his bingo days and has openly said that his early jobs have helped to shape his personality on the big screen, and he wouldn’t be the actor he is today without those experiences.


Crowe has Given His Approval for Gladiator 2
Crowe has said that he openly supports the idea of Gladiator 2, but doesn’t have any intentions of reprising his role. He’s said he’s proud of Gladiator and he loved the experience, but he’s since moved on to other projects. Ridley Scott, the director has also said that he wants the sequel to focus on new characters and a different storyline.

This new story, set in North Africa, will follow Lucius, allowing a new arc without the need to bring back Maximus. The sequel is set several years after the first, and it explores the impact that Maximus had on Lucius’s life. The movie stars Paul Mescal as the main character with Denzel Washington also joining the cast. He plays a significant role, but it’s yet to be announced what his specific role is.

Interestingly, Joaquin Phoenix is expected to reprise his role as Commodus too. This is only expected to be in the form of flashbacks or visions, but either way, it’s certainly interesting. Only time will tell whether the movie is going to be as good as the first, but the fact that the director is taking a whole new approach could lead to some interesting developments. Seeing Joaquin Phoenix reprise his role is also going down well with fans, as many can’t wait to see the iconic Roman leader grace the big screen once again.