Director Ridley Scott has revealed details of an on set-clash between Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix during the making of Gladiator.
The Oscar-winning filmmaker, 86, has returned to the colosseum for a long-awaited sequel to his 2000 swords and sandal classic, starring Paul Mescal as the next generation of warrior.
Neither of the first film’s stars return (unsurprising, given the totality of Maximus’s revenge), with Mescal facing off against Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn for the sequel.
Phoenix, 50, played sadistic emperor Commodus opposite Crowe’s determined revenger, earning himself an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor the following year.
This was one of the actor’s earliest roles – and the scale of Ridley’s revenge epic reportedly left the star feeling daunted.
According to the filmmaker, Phoenix’s nerves didn’t sit right with Crowe, 60, who branded him ‘unprofessional’ as he threatened to quit the role.
Speaking to The New York Times, Ridley revealed the details of Joaquin and Russell’s feud, saying: “(Joaquin) was in his prince’s outfit saying, ‘I can’t do it’.
‘I said, “What?” And Russell said, “This is terribly unprofessional”.’
Joaquin was ultimately talked down, and Ridley went on to describe himself as a ‘big brother or a dad’ to the Joker star, saying: ‘I’m quite a friend of Joaquin’s.’
‘Gladiator was a baptism of fire for both of us in the beginning,’ he added.
Over 20 years later, and the actor made headlines after dropping out of an entirely different film – only days before it was supposed to begin filming.
The Beau is Afraid star was set to appear in director Todd Haynes’ gay romance; a ‘detective love story,’ reportedly set in 1930s LA.
However, the production was thrown into chaos after its star reportedly quit days before shooting was due to begin in Mexico, having gotten ‘cold feet’ over the film – despite having developed the screenplay himself with writer Jon Raymond.
Producer Christine Vachon took to Facebook in the aftermath, saying: ‘A version of this did happen. It has been a nightmare. If I haven’t been in touch or returned your call – this is why,’ she penned.
‘And please if you are tempted to finger wag or admonish us that “that’s what you get for casting a straight actor” – DON’T.
‘This was HIS project that he brought to US – and Killer’s record on working with LGBTQ actors/crew/directors speaks for itself. (And for those of you who HAVE – know that you are making a terrible situation even worse).’
The star can currently be found on screens, starring as Arthur Fleck in the comic book sequel Joker: Folie à Deux, which recently dropped onto streaming after a disappointing theatrical run.
The film came under fire from angry fans, who branded the film ‘pathologically unnecessary’ and slammed both its musical sequences and perceived ‘betrayal’ of the central character.
After failing to make much of a dent in the box office, the film limped onto digital on November 4 – only weeks after its theatrical debut.
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