Gladiator 2 Continues The Story of Maximus Through His Son . Released in 2000, Gladiator saw Russell Crowe take on the role of General Maximus, who Commodus forces into disgrace a

The movie’s director, Ridley Scott, spoke to The New York Times before the upcoming release of “Gladiator II” and revealed that the first few days of production didn’t go as planned – mainly because Phoenix was overwhelmed and Crowe believed his behavior was “unprofessional.”

Actor Joaquin Phoenix, known for his villainous role Commodus in "Gladiator," almost dropped out of the film, director Ridley Scott shared.

Russell Crowe will not be involved in Gladiator II onscreen or behind the scenes but he has spoken several times about his notable sequel absence.