Summary
- Gladiator II missed the opportunity to showcase Russell Crowe in a brief flashback.
- The absence of Crowe in Gladiator II impacted its box office performance and critical reception.
- Featuring Crowe in the sequel could have boosted the nostalgia factor & storytelling warmth, attracting original fans to the movie.
Ridley Scott’s original Gladiator movie was a massive hit, scoring a sequel even after over two decades. According to one of the writers, the original lead, Russell Crowe, was supposed to make a cameo in Gladiator II.
Gladiator, starring Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, was well received globally when it was released in 2000. The audience loved its compelling storytelling, exceptional performances, cinematography and musical score. It received numerous accolades from Academy Awards and Golden Globes, including Best Actor for Crowe, Best Picture, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, and Best Costume Design. It also received Best Film from the BAFTA Awards. Crowe nearly appeared in Gladiator II, starring Paul Mescal as Lucius, Maximus’ long-lost son. However, his scene was scrapped, according to one of the writers.
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In an exclusive interview with The Direct, Peter Craig spoke about Gladiator II and shared a scene in one version of the script, which could have taken back Crowe as Maximus in the sequel. According to him, in the early draft, there is a brief scene of Maximus when Lucius visits his tomb. “There was a draft I had where I—So there was an idea that the Romans had that you could talk to your ancestors, and they have these underground catacombs where people’s urns and ashes and bones were all buried beneath the city,” he explained. Craig added that it would have featured “a really brief flashback” of the original Gladiator lead. He said:
There had been a scene where once Lucius finds out that it’s his father, he goes down there and he finds his grave. And there was just going to be a really brief flashback with Russell.
Apparently, the scene was cut, hence the absence of Crowe in the sequel, which brought back previous actors to reprise their roles, including Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, Lucius’ mother. Despite the changes, Craig supported the move, convinced it was for the better. “I think they probably made the right decision not using it,” he continued. Even if some scenes were removed, he felt that Ridley Scott retained the significant ones. “But I was on that with Ridley [Scott] for a while, I actually left to do this show. And they, I sort of gave them a big menu of stuff, and they selected some things from it, and I think they left a lot of the right stuff off of it,” Craig shared.
Gladiator II received mixed reviews from critics, with many saying it lacked the emotional depth and gripping narrative of the first movie. While it performed well at the box office, it failed to replicate Crowe’s original movie’s critical acclaim or commercial success. Featuring Crowe in the sequel would likely have boosted its box-office performance and improved the lukewarm reception. First, it will add a nostalgia factor, which could draw audiences and add depth and warmth to the storytelling. Crowe could also be used in marketing, which would surely hook longtime fans who are waiting to see him back in the franchise despite his death in the first movie. Crowe remains a well-known actor and his star power is still evident. Gladiator II could have used him in some form or another to attract the audience who loved the original film.
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Source: The Direct