Russell Crowe Not Returning for ’Gladiator 2’ as Filming Begins in Morocco

Russell Crowe dies of his wounds at the end of the first part of Gladiator and will not participate in the second part of the film. A bit of disappointment for the Australian actor. "I think at some point they’ll call me and ask me to do something, but so far no one has contacted me," he said on the RTE radio show. According to his explanations, Gladiator 2 is "an extension of the original narrative, but the plot takes place long after the death of Maximus, so it doesn’t require my services at all." "I’ve heard Paul is a nice guy, I wish him the best," he added.

Russell Crowe also reminisced about the filming of the first part of Gladiator. "I don’t want to dwell on it too much, because it takes me back to a time when I was much younger. [...] The perfect vision I had of this experience at the time has crystallized over time. When I look back, I tell myself that I enjoyed every minute of this shoot, even though that wasn’t necessarily the case at the time. Wearing a costume and being part of a historical film still attracts me a lot. So yes, I’m a little jealous of those who will have the opportunity to live this experience that I once lived."

The filming of Gladiator 2 should begin in May in Ouarzazate. Irish actor Paul Mescal, known for his role in the series Normal People, will play the role of Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), who is now an adult man, the story taking place years after the end of the first film. Lucius was also the nephew of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the son of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who murdered his father to seize the throne.