Summary
Russell Crowe is a notable absentee from Ridley Scott’s legacy sequel,Gladiator II, but the full explanation for his disappearance isn’t as obvious as it might seem.Gladiator II’s castfeatures an impressive list of returnees and new additions. However, even though the follow-up is rooted in the original story, the fact that the original star will not feature signifies a clear point of difference between the projects.
Gladiator IIwill arrive in theaters in November, 2024.
Set after theoriginalGladiator’s ending,Gladiator IIfollows Paul Mescal’s Lucius, who featured in the 2000 film, although played by a different actor. The movie charts Lucius' journey from Roman North Africa, where he is defeated in battle and sold into slavery,echoing the journey of Maximus from the first movie. The similarities between Lucius' story and Maximus' are uncanny. However, although the characters seem to mirror each other, there’s no chance of seeing the pair appear on-screen together, since Russell Crowe is not returning to the franchise. As disappointing as this may seem, there are multiple good reasons for the new approach.
Russell Crowe’s Maximus Died In Gladiator - But That Doesn’t Mean He Couldn’t Have Returned
There Were Still Ways To Bring Him Back
The obvious explanation forRussell Crowe’s absence fromGladiator IIis that his character, the legendaryMaximus Decimus Meridius, died at the end of the first movie. As such, bringing him back would have either involved an enormous retcon, or a shift into slightly more cerebral or spiritual territory for the follow-up. As emblematic as the character undoubtedly is – as evidenced by the multiple Maximus references in thefirstGladiator IItrailer– bringing him back would defy logic in what is, in narrative terms, a fairly traditional story.
However, even though Maximus' death made Russell Crowe’s absence almost inevitable, there were several ways that the franchise could still have brought him back – without completely dispensing with realism. One way for the film to incorporate him into the story is through flashbacks. TheGladiator IItrailer already explained thatLucius has been shaped by the events he witnessed in the Colosseum, so revisiting those moments (and Maximus' role in them) could have made sense. While this may have involved de-aging Russell Crowe, it would have been a potentially viable option for the story.
Since there is already a precedent for including dead characters in the series, it’s not a stretch to assume that Maximus could have been given similar treatment.
A second approach could have been to feature Maximus in an afterlife scene. The originalGladiatoralready incorporated scenes of what awaited Maximus beyond the grave, reuniting him with his wife and child. Since there is already a precedent for including dead characters in the series, it’s not a stretch to assume that Maximus could have been given similar treatment. As a result, it’s clear that there are other explanations behindGladiator II’s Russell Crowe absence that go beyond Maximus' death.
Gladiator 2 Timeline: When The Sequel Is Set & How Long After The First Movie
Gladiator II is set to continue the original’s story years after it was released, and the sequel will also take place years after Maximus' death.
Gladiator 2’s Story Doesn’t Really Involve Maximus
He Would Have Distracted From The Plot
In fact, the main reason for Russell Crowe’s absence fromGladiator IIis not how the original story ended, but how this next chapter is set to unfold. The firstGladiatorwas, fundamentally, Maximus' story. He was front and center of the action throughout, driving the plot forwards with his compelling revenge arc. While other characters played crucial supporting roles,it was down to Maximus that the story succeeded.
By contrast,Gladiator IIhas made a deliberate decision to place Lucius in the spotlight. Although the similarities between the two characters' stories are self-evident, the sequel understandably wants to emphasize a new character, moving away from the motivations and arcs of the past. Involving Maximus in his process would only muddy the water. Such was his presence and stature in the first film that he would inevitably eclipse anynew protagonist inGladiator II. It’s therefore vital that,to let Lucius thrive on his own, Maximus is removedas a potential distraction.
Russell Crowe Wasn’t Asked About Appearing In Gladiator 2
He Was Never Involved In The Project
Just how important Maximus' absence as a character was to Ridley Scott and screenwriter David Scarpa’s vision for the story is demonstrated by the fact that actorRussell Crowe was never asked to appear inGladiator II. In an interview withThe Ryan Tubridy Showon RTÉ Radio One, Crowe himself confirmed that there had never been any plans for Maximus to feature, revealing (viaScreen Rant):
I’m sure at some point in time they’ll want to ask me about something, but they haven’t brought anything up in a while. It’s an extension of the narrative, but it is long beyond Maximus’ passing, so it doesn’t really involve me at all. I hear that young fella Paul is a good dude and I wish him the best of luck with it.
These comments reiterate what’s now been confirmed byGladiator II’s promotional material – that Maximus plays no active role in the story.
However, just because he isn’t a direct presence in the narrative, it doesn’t mean that Maximus has no influence onGladiator II’s story. In fact, the trailer makes it clear thatMaximus' legend permeates all aspects ofGladiator II, from Lucius' memories of his exploits in the arena to a shrine apparently built to his memory. This will allow him to be a more subtle influence on the story – something that would have been unimaginable had Russell Crowe himself been directly resolved. As a result,Gladiator IIcan move the narrative forward while still acknowledging the importance of the past.
Gladiator 2’s Roman Emperors Explained: True Story & Why There Are Two
Unlike the first movie, Gladiator 2 features two different Roman emperors. While this might seem strange, its rooted in real historical fact.
Russell Crowe May Have Returned In Gladiator 2’s Original Plans
There Were Some Wild Potential Stories
In hindsight, it’s easy to see why Scott and Scarpa decided to pursue a story that left Maximus on the sidelines. However, while their approach makes total sense, it wasn’t always the preferred option for theGladiatorsequel. Over the years,many potentialGladiator IIideas were discussed, some of which involved Maximus' return. One particularly notorious plan, courtesy of musician Nick Cave, involved a resurrected Maximus being sent on a mission to kill Jesus Christ and prevent the spread of Christianity.
Given how outlandish theNick CaveGladiator 2planwas, it was highly unlikely that Maximus would ever return in this way. However, his importance to the success of the first film also made the idea of aGladiatorsequel without him – to many people, at least – impossible. It’s a testament to the strength ofGladiator II’s new story that the franchise can move forward without its most iconic character.
