Russell Crowe says he’s ‘Slightly uncomfortable’ about ‘Gladiator 2’ being made, there’s ‘A tinge of Jealousy’

Russell Crowe will not be appearing in the long awaited "Gladiator 2." (Image via X)

Russell Crowe doesn’t seem all too happy about the Ridley Scott sequel to “Gladiator” in which Crowe was the main lead playing the role of the indomitable force of Rome as Maximus Decimus Meridius (got goosebumps right now).

In an interview on “Kyle Meredith With…,” Crowe expressed his opinions on his magnum opus getting a sequel. “I’m slightly uncomfortable, the fact that they’re making another one, you know? Because of course, I’m dead, and I have no say in what gets done,” said Crowe.

The newly released film stands out as a major highlight of the year, with high hopes that it, along with the Joker sequel, will reinvigorate cinema attendance after a sluggish first half. Derek Jacobi and Connie Nielsen are among the returning cast.

To watch the interview: Click Here

Crowe further added, “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.”

The 60-year-old actor, known for his roles in "Gladiator," "Master and Commander," "Robin Hood," and "Les Misérables," mentioned that the new installment has made him reflect on his extensive career.

“I reflect back on the age I was when I made that film and all the things that came after it and the doors that particular movie opened for me,” he said. “So there’s definitely a tinge — and this is just being purely honest — a tinge of melancholy, a tinge of jealousy. Because I remember when I had tendons.”

This time around, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, and Joseph Quinn join the ensemble cast. The film was primarily shot in Italy, with additional scenes recently filmed in Sussex.

Russell Crowe, now 60, leveraged his success from "Gladiator" into roles in "Master and Commander," "Robin Hood" (2010), and "Les Misérables" (2012).  He will soon appear in the horror film "The Exorcism," Marvel's "Kraven the Hunter," a biopic of Mark Rothko, and the historical drama "Nuremberg."

Despite his iconic role in Ridley Scott's 2000 blockbuster, for which he won an Oscar for Best Actor, Crowe will not feature in the long-awaited sequel, set to premiere this Christmas.

Instead, the sequel centers on Paul Mescal, who portrays the grandson of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, played by Richard Harris in the original film. Joaquin Phoenix's character, the emperor's son, killed both the emperor and Crowe's character by the end of the first movie.