2 weeks Ago By Leena Nasir
It would be hard for fans to imagine what the original “Gladiator” would have been like without Joaquin Phoenix, but fans were nearly forced to live through that reality. Famous director Ridley Scott said Joaquin Phoenix nearly dropped out of the 2000 film “Gladiator” in an interview published by The New York Times , Nov. 7.
Scott said Phoenix had to be convinced to stay on and see the project through. “He was in his prince’s outfit saying, ‘I can’t do it.’ I said, ‘What?'” Scott recalled.
He went on to say the film came dangerously close to facing a major casting change. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 19: Joaquin Phoenix attends the 2024 Academy Museum Gala at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 19, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic) Getty Images Scott provided more insight on how the matter unfolded at the time.
“And Russell [Crowe] said, ‘This is terribly unprofessional,'” the director recalled, according to The New York Times. He explained that he had to persuade the famous actor to stay on and see the production through. “I can act as a big brother or dad,” he said.
“But I’m quite a friend of Joaquin’s. ‘Gladiator’ was a baptism of fire for both of us in the beginning,” Scott continued. The Emperor Of Rome Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) Has Reason To Question The Loyalty Of His Sister Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) In Dreamworks Pictures’ And Universal Pictures’ Epic Action Drama, “Gladiator,” Directed By Ridley Scott.
(Photo By Getty Images) Phoenix famously played the Gladiator’s villain Commodus, who sets off the film’s plot by murdering his own father, the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. “Gladiator” went on to win five Oscars, including Best Picture. The topic of Phoenix nearly dropping out of a major production years ago is quite similar to recent headlines reporting that the actor bailed on Todd Haynes’ untitled gay romance film in the summer of 2024.
(RELATED: Brian Cox Slams Joaquin Phoenix In Savage Talk) Phoenix dropped out of the starring role in the film just five days before filming began, and never returned, according to Variety ..
