Original star Russell Crowe recently offered his candid take on Gladiator II and explained why he was not a fan of the long-awaited sequel.
Last year, the highly anticipated follow-up to Gladiator was finally released in theaters with Ridley Scott returning to direct and Paul Mescal starring. While some of the cast members from the first film reprised their roles, Crowe was notably absent since his character died at the end of the original, and there was no intention to bring him back, even in a flashback or dream sequence.
What is Russell Crowe's Candid Take on Gladiator II?
Speaking recently with Triple J, Crowe shared his thoughts on Gladiator II, where he admitted that he was disappointed by the film.
He explained that he believes the sequel did not manage to live up to the "moral core" of the original, and there was no understanding of what made the first movie special.
"I think the recent sequel that, you know, we don’t have to name out loud is a really unfortunate example of even the people in that engine room not actually understanding what made the first one special," the Oscar winner said. "It wasn’t the pomp. It wasn’t the circumstance. It wasn’t the action. It was the moral core."
Crowe noted that he was committed to his character's moral core when he was making the original film, which led to some creative clashes.
"The thing is, there was a daily fight on that set. It was a daily fight to keep that moral core of the character," he shared.
"The amount of times they suggested sex scenes and stuff like that for Maximus, it’s like you’re taking away his power. So you’re saying at the same time he had this relationship with his wife, he was f***ing this other girl? What are you talking about? It’s crazy."
So far, none of the people involved in Gladiator II has reacted to Crowe's criticism of the film.
Is Gladiator 3 Currently in the Works?
With Gladiator II ending up being a box office success, some fans are wondering whether a third movie is currently in the works that will continue Lucius' journey in Ancient Rome.
A few months ago, Ridley Scott confirmed that he is developing a third Gladiator movie, but he didn't share any details on when he plans to shoot it.
"Gladiator [3] is in process right now," he simply teased.
For now, fans should wait for more news and updates regarding the potential third movie in the coming months.
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