Russell Crowe criticises Gladiator sequel for lacking ‘moral core’

Russell Crowe has slammed Gladiator II as “unfortunate”, claiming the sequel’s creators failed to understand what made his Oscar-winning original special.

Russell Crowe has criticised Gladiator II in a new interview 25 years after he starred in the original film.

The New Zealand-born Aussie, who won a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of lead character Maximus in the 2000 film, said the sequel released last year did not capture the essence of the Gladiator tale.

“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,” Crowe said in a new interview with Triple J.

“It wasn’t the pomp. It wasn’t the circumstance. It wasn’t the action. It was the moral core.”

Russell Crowe has criticised the Gladiator sequel 25 years after starring in the original film.

The actor said Gladiator II lacks a “moral core” that made the original “special”.

The 61-year-old said the new cast and crew were likely faced with the same dilemmas he faced in the original, in that the studio wanted to add gratuitous sex scenes to the film among other themes that he felt did not align with his character of Maximus.

“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 recalled. “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.”

Crowe played the lead role of Maximus in the 2000 film. Picture: Universal/Getty Images

Paul Mescal takes on the lead role of Lucius in Gladiator II. Picture: Paramount Pictures

Crowe was ultimately able to make the version he had envisioned, resulting in the film’s 12 nominations at the 2001 Oscars, including Best Picture which the movie won.

That’s why Crowe doesn’t understand why the sequel would stray from what made the film a success with audiences worldwide.

“The women in Europe when that movie started coming out, I would be at restaurants and they’d come talk to me and go, ‘What’s going on?’ It’s like, ‘Hey it wasn’t me, I didn’t do it!’” he laughed.

Mescal with director Ridley Scott, who also directed the first film. Picture: Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images

Indeed, Crowe was not part of the sequel as Maximus was killed in the original film.

In Gladiator II, Paul Mescal steps into the lead role, playing Lucius Verus, the grandson of former Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris).

Fans of the original film may recall Marcus was killed by his villainous son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) after he appointed Maximus as his successor. The power-hungry Commodus then kills Maximus in a gruelling duel at the end of the film.

Last year, Crowe also discussed his reservations about Gladiator II during an interview on Kyle Meredith With …

Mescal attends the Australian Premiere of Gladiator II at Darling Harbour in October 2024 in Sydney. Picture: James Gourley/Getty Images

“I’m slightly uncomfortable, the fact that they’re making another one, you know?” he said on the program.

“Because of course, I’m dead, and I have no say in what gets done. A couple of things that I’ve heard, I’m like, ‘No, no, no. That’s not in the moral journey of that particular character.’

“But you know, I can’t say anything. That’s not my place. I’m six feet under. So we’ll see what that is like.”

There were mixed reviews when the film was released in November 2024, with Forbes calling it “a dreadful, pointless sequel” whereas the New York Times gave it the “thumb’s up”.