Can you envision the legendary movie “Gladiator” without the presence of Russell Crowe?
Russell Crowe himself admitted that he nearly abandoned the project for various reasons, despite the fact that it was within the realm of possibility.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, he stated that while he was confident in his ability as a leading man, he was uncertain about the world surrounding him in “Gladiator.”
He described the script as “absolute rubbish,” with strange sequences that he feared would not resonate with modern audiences. The energy on the film set was also “very fractured,” causing Crowe to contemplate leaving.
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However, conversations with director Ridley Scott convinced him to stay, as Scott assured him that nothing would be filmed unless Crowe believed in it 100%.
Crowe also revealed that he identified with co-star Joaquin Phoenix, who was experiencing similar feelings of imposter syndrome on the set. Despite Phoenix’s current acclaim, Crowe claims that only Scott recognized his talent at the time, and convinced him to bring subtleties and menace to his role.
When Crowe first saw the film, he was blown away, but it was only when he watched it with a crowd that he realized its impact on audiences. Despite his success from the film, Crowe is somewhat embarrassed by it, yet he hopes that every young actor could have a “Gladiator” in their career.
