Ridley Scott's Gladiator II has taken more than 20 years to hit the 2024 movie release schedule. And, though franchise OG Russell Crowe isn’t in the sequel–not for lack of trying, even when the ideas weren’t very good–you’d think the Oscar-winning actor might be focused solely on celebrating the franchise’s big return.

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.

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

As legendary filmmaker Ridley Scott tells PEOPLE, the New Zealand star, who won the Best Actor Oscar in 2001 for his performance in the first film, was eager to somehow factor into Gladiator II despite his character Maximus's death at the end of the original.

A Gladiator stuntman fears he may lose his leg after a horror fall while renovating - prompting Russell Crowe to donate £5,000 for a limb-saving operation. Hollywood stuntman Charlie Allan had been building the front entrance of his garage when he slipped, causing his leg to give way and 'crunch' down on his left ankle.

An actor and stunt coordinator who injured his leg has reached his £25,000 fundraising target for treatment with the help of star and friend Russell Crowe. Charlie Allan, 61, from the Scottish Borders,