Gladiator cast now - tragic death during filming, public break-ups and sequel
Gladiator is one of the most iconic films ever made - and it looks set to be coming back for a sequel.
Ridley Scott's epic historical drama, which hit cinemas in 2000, followed Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman general who was betrayed by a power-hungry new Emperor who killed his wife and child.
Despite many rewrites and complications during production, the movie grossed $457 million worldwide and received nominations for 11 Oscars, winning Best Picture and Best Actor.
The leading role turned Russell Crowe into a superstar, but sadly his character can't return for a sequel because he died while avenging his family by defeating the Emperor.
Rumours of a sequel have been swirling for decades, with Scott confirming a script had already been completed in 2021 after it was given the greenlight in 2018.
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Paul Mescal is being tipped to star in the rumoured Gladiator sequel (Scott Garfitt/REX/Shutterstock for BAFTA)Speaking to Collider, Scott said: "Oh, it's been written. It’s already been written.
"We have a good footprint, a good, logical place to go. You can't just do another Gladiator-type movie. You've got to follow... there are enough components from the first one to pick up the ball and continue it."
Now Deadline has reported that Normal People star Paul Mescal is being lined up to play the lead in the highly-anticipated sequel.
The plot of the follow-up movie will reportedly follow Lucius, the nephew of the evil Emperor, who was saved by Maximus along with his mother Lucilla.
With talk of a Gladiator sequel, here is a look at what happened to the original cast.
Russell Crowe - Maximus Decimus Meridius
Russell Crowe in 'Gladiator' (Getty Images)Life could have been very different for Russell Crowe if Mel Gibson hadn't turned down the iconic role of Maximus Decimus Meridius.
The New Zealander became a household name after playing the Roman general seeking revenge after his family were murdered.
Crowe won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Gladiator - and has been nominated two more times for the same award for The Insider and A Beautiful Mind.
His other major roles include L.A. Confidential, Master and Commander, Cinderella Man, American Gangster, State of Play, Robin Hood and Les Misérables - where we heard his singing abilities.
Most recently, Crowe played Greek god Zeus in Thor: Love and Thunder and has been cast as Kraven the Hunter in Sony's upcoming Spider-Man universe film.
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Away from acting, the BAFTA and Golden Globe winner has been co-owner of National Rugby League team South Sydney Rabbitohs since 2006.
As for his love life, the Hollywood legend married Australian singer Danielle Spencer in 2003 after an on-and-off relationship in which he had an affair with co-star Meg Ryan in 2000.
They had two sons together but reportedly split in October 2012 before finalising their divorce in April 2018.
Crowe appeared to confirm his long-rumoured romance with actress-turned-real estate agent Britney Theriot last year - with the pair having a 26-year age gap.
Britney appeared in his selfie with fans outside the Colosseum in Rome, where Crowe joked he'd taken his family to his "old office" as it was the location of many Gladiator scenes.
Last month, Crowe was appointed ambassador of Rome in the world by the mayor in recognition of the special bond that ties the Gladiator star to the Eternal City.
If a sequel does happen, it's believed Crowe could return in a dream sequence or a flashback.
Joaquin Phoenix - Commodus
Commodus was the villain (Internet Unknown)
Joaquin Phoenix attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party (Getty Images)Now a massive Hollywood star, the role of Commodus put Joaquin Phoenix on the map.
He earned a Best Actor nomination at the Oscars for his role as the moral, power-hungry, embittered son of Marcus Aurelius.
When learning he won't be made emperor, he murders his father and kills Maximus' family, but the gladiator manages to kill him in his final dying act.
Phoenix was said to be very nervous on set and Crowe used to help calm him down by feeding him "cans of Guinness".
The animal rights activist went on to have great success in films such as Signs, The Village, and Hotel Rwanda.
Phoenix won a Grammy Award, a Golden Globe Award and Academy Award nomination or Best Actor for his portrayal of musician Johnny Cash in the biopic Walk the Line.
In 2019, he won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his leading role in Joker.
As for his love life, Phoenix was in a relationship with Liv Tyler for years but is now in a relationship with Her co-star Rooney mara, who he shared a son with named after is late brother River.
Connie Nielsen - Lucilla
Connie Nielsen played Lucilla (Jaap Buitendijk/Dreamworks/Universal/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)Despite Jennifer Lopez auditioning for the role, it was given to Danish actress Connie Nielsen.
Lucilla was Maximus' former lover and the sister of Commodus, who had a weird incestuous obsession with his sister and wanted to corrupt her son.
After Gladiator she appeared with Robin Williams on One Hour Photo, Tommy Lee Jones in The Hunted and John Travolta in Basic.
She dated Metallica drummer and fellow Dane, Lars Ulrich, from 2004 to 2012 and has two children.
Nielsen is fluent in Danish, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish and also knows some Spanish.
Most recently she played Jo Harding in the Channel 4 psychological drama Close to Me.
Oliver Reed - Antonius Proximo
Oliver Reed died during filming (Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)Popular English actor Oliver Reed played Antonius Proximo, the gruff gladiator trainer who buys Maximus in North Africa.
Tragically, the Funny Bones and Oliver! actor died from a heart attack during an afternoon break from filming Gladiator in Malta.
According to witnesses, he had downed over eight bottles of lager, twelve double rums and half a bottle of whisky.
After winning an arm-wrestling content against members of the British Royal Navy crew from HMS Cumberland, he suddenly collapsed and died on route to the hospital aged 61.
His remaining scenes in the movie had to be completed using a body double and CGI - and he was posthumously nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Richard Harris - Marcus Aurelius
Richard Harris played the emperor who was murdered (Jaap Buitendijk/Dreamworks/Universal/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)Legendary actor Richard Harris played Marcus Aurelius - the old and wise Roman emperor who appointed Maximus as his successor.
But he was brutally murdered by his son Commodus before his wish could be fulfilled, sparking the main plot of the movie.
Harris would go on to have another iconic role, Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter movies.
Tragically, Harris was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease in August 2002 and died two months later at the age of 72.
Harris had jokingly quipped that "it was the food" as he was wheeled out of the Savoy Hotel for the last time.
He is the father of actors Jared Harris and Jamie Harris and director Damian Harris.
Omid Djalili - Slave Trader
Omid Djalili appeared as a slave trader (PA Archive/Press Association Ima)The British comedian had a small role in the big budget movie as a slave trader.
In 2016, Omid revealed he was scared of a scene where he was supposed to be punched by Ollie Reed, but the crew played a trick on him by getting Reed to ask if he could grab his "nuts".
He told The Guardian: "Ollie said: 'Do you mind if I really grab you hard, to make it authentic?' I said 'fine', so he did. Usually you do the scene, they say 'cut', and you have a few minutes to reset before you go again. Ollie continued to hold my nuts during the reset. I was so frightened of him that I thought it was part of his acting process, so I allowed him to hold me while we talked about the food in the hotel.
"By take three I became aware of a massaging sensation. By take four he said: 'You do realise this is a wind-up, don't you?' Everyone thought it was so funny they kept it in the final cut and he didn't have to punch me."
Since then, he has appeared in Sex and the City 2, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End and His Dark Materials.
Omid has also lent his voice to the Shaun the Sheep Movie and hosted ITV gameshow Winning Combination.
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