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

In 2001, Crowe would win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as Maximus, the Roman general turned slave turned hero of Gladiator. The following year, Denzel Washington would win his second Academy Award — and first for Best Actor — for his thunderous turn as a (sound familiar?

Although Russell Crowe did not appear in the sequel to "Gladiator," the actor attempted to return to the role of Maximus. Director Ridley Scott revealed details of these efforts in a recent interview.