Russell Crowe Admits He Feels 'A Tinge of Jealousy' About “Gladiator II”

"I’m slightly uncomfortable, the fact that they’re making another one," the actor, who won an Oscar for his role in the original 2000 film, said

• Russell Crowe won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in the 2000 film Gladiator

• "I’m slightly uncomfortable, the fact that they’re making another one," the actor admitted on the Kyle Meredith With... podcast

• "There’s definitely a tinge — and this is just being purely honest — a tinge of melancholy, tinge of jealousy," Crowe said during the interview

Russell Crowe has some thoughts on the new Gladiator movie.

While speaking on a recent episode of the Kyle Meredith With… podcast, Crowe, 60, admitted he's "slightly uncomfortable" with the idea of director Ridley Scott making Gladiator II.

The original Gladiator movie, which was released in 2000, told the story of Crowe's Maximus, a Roman general who was the victim of a coup by the evil emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). He was forced into slavery and fought his way up the ranks as a gladiator so he could take vengeance upon Commodus, who killed his family.

With Crowe's character not making it to the end of the movie, the actor understands why he doesn't really have a say when it comes to the follow-up, which stars Paul Mescal as the lead. However, that doesn't mean he isn't a tad jealous.

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“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," Crowe told the podcast.

"But, a couple of things that I’ve heard, I’m like, ‘No, no, no, no, no. That’s not in the moral journey of that particular character.’ But you know, can’t say anything. It’s not my place. I’m six foot under. So we’ll see what that is like,” he added.

Crowe — who went on to star in films such as 2001's A Beautiful Mind, 2010's Robin Hood, 2012's Les Misérables, and many more — recognizes that the movie opened a lot of doors for him.

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“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 that particular movie opened for me,” he shared.

“So there’s definitely a tinge — and this is just being purely honest — a tinge of melancholy, tinge of jealousy. Because I remember when I had tendons,” Crowe, who won the Best Actor Oscar for his part in the epic, joked.

In theaters on Nov. 22, 2024, Gladiator II picks up where Gladiator left off with a new fighter, Commodus’ nephew Lucius (Mescal), ready to enter the arena.

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This isn't the first time Crowe has spoken about being "jealous" of the upcoming project.

While speaking to Collider in an interview published in April 2023, Crowe admitted, "Look, the only thing that I really feel about it is slightly jealous, you know? Because I was a much younger man, obviously, and it was a huge experience in my life."

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"It's something that changed my life, really. It changed the way people regarded me and what I do for a living, and, you know, I've been very lucky to be involved in lots of big movies, but the legs on that film are incredible," he added.

Crowe continued at the time, "You don't always get that kind of longevity with every film you do, so, it obviously holds a special place in my heart."

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