In a recent discussion, acclaimed director Ridley Scott revealed that Russell Crowe was extremely enthusiastic about reprising his role of General Maximus in Gladiator 2. The actor, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2001 for his role in Gladiator,

It was an open secret and, with the release of 'Gladiator II', it became clear that Russell Crowe was not going to return as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a role he played in the origi

Russell Crowe wanted to keep spectators entertained. While the Oscar-winning star of 2000’s Gladiator is not in the film’s follow-up, he did valiantly try to be. According to helmer Ridley Scott, Crowe wanted to reincarnate his character of Maximus,

Russell Crowe wanted his 'Gladiator' character to come back from the dead so he could star in a sequel. Director Sir Ridley Scott previously got together with the actor to discuss plans for a follow up to the 2000 movie and he's now revealed Russell wanted to find a way to bring back Maximus even though he died at the end of the first film.

When it came to bringing Maximus’ breastplate to life, the team spared no detail. After acquiring an original from the first film, a team member digitally scanned it. Then a leather specialist handcrafted the cuirass to Mescal’s specifications. Finally, metallic embellishments were added to the piece to match Maximus’ vest.

Crowe won a Best Actor Oscar for playing the character of Maximus, who dies at the end of the 2000 original Russell Crowe doesn't return to the Colosseum in the long anticipated sequel to Gladiator — but it wasn't for a lack of trying.

We examine the road to Gladiator II not taken in a 2001 screenplay by Nick Cave. Written at the behest of Russell Crowe, it "sorted out" Maximus being dead by beginning in the afterlife and ending with America's Vietnam

In an interview with People magazine, Scott shared insights into the actor’s persistence. “Russell and I had a go at it around 18 years ago,” he said. “I had Nick Cave writing the script, and I kept saying [to Russell],

Related: Ridley Scott Says Russell Crowe Once Asked to Star in Gladiator II: 'I Want to Come Back from the Dead' (Exclusive) Two O.G. cast members do reprise their roles: Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi. New cast members range from Denzel Washington to Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn.

That’s a lot of Oscar history happening in the span of two years, a Jenga tower of cause and effect that would topple if even one block got removed. Like, for example, if Russell Crowe never won that Best Actor Oscar for Gladiator, a development that would alter the course of Oscars history, Hollywood history — heck, even American history.

Gladiator II is now in cinemas and continues the story of Maximus Decimus Meridius' son Lucius, but is Russell Crowe back as Maximus?