Russell Crowe Almost Walked Away from ‘Gladiator’: Reveals Struggle with the Script

Russell Crowe, the actor who portrayed the Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 film Gladiator, recently opened up about his experience working on the movie.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, he revealed that he considered walking away from the project because he thought the script was “absolute rubbish.”

Confidence and Concerns

Crowe went into the project with confidence in his abilities as a leading man. However, he expressed concerns about the world surrounding him, including the script.

He stated that while the concept behind Gladiator was great, the script was poorly written with strange sequences, such as endorsements for products like olive oil, that would not appeal to modern audiences.

Crowe felt that the energy around the production was “fractured.”

Almost Walking Away

The actor revealed that he considered leaving the production a couple of times, thinking that his best option was to leave the set and get on a plane.

However, he ultimately decided to stay in the film, citing continued conversations with director Ridley Scott that gave him faith.

Scott assured him that they would not commit anything to camera that Crowe did not believe in 100%.

The Making of ‘Gladiator’

Gladiator‘s script was only 21 pages long when they started filming, much shorter than the usual 103-110 page scripts.

The filmmakers used up those 21 pages in the first section of the movie, and by the time they got to the second location in Morocco, they were catching up.

Despite his initial reservations, Gladiator became a turning point in Crowe’s career. He won an Oscar for his role as Maximus, and it changed the way people regarded him and his work.

He admitted to being slightly jealous of the upcoming Gladiator sequel, set to release in November 2024, as he was not part of it.

Crowe concluded the interview by expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of the original Gladiator film.

He acknowledged that it was a massive experience in his life that changed him personally and professionally.

Although he had concerns about the script, he ultimately trusted Ridley Scott’s vision and believed in the film’s potential.