Russell Crowe fought to keep sex scenes out of ‘Gladiator’: “It was a constant battle on that set”
The star of ‘Gladiator’ shares the struggle between actors and screenwriters on set.
‘Gladiator’ is a classic whose value has only grown, especially in the wake of its critically panned sequel.
It is surprising that, in 2025, Russell Crowe is revealing details about the tension between the film crew and the actors. Crowe himself fought to reject the screenwriters’ ideas regarding the character of Maximus.
“[What made the first film special] wasn’t the pomp. It wasn’t the circumstances. It wasn’t the action. It was the moral core,” Crowe told triple_j via Instagram. “And the thing is, there were constant fights on that set.
It was a daily struggle to maintain the character’s moral core. The number of times they suggested sex scenes and things like that for Maximus—it’s like, you’re taking his power away.”
He continued: “So, you’re telling me that while he’s having a relationship with his wife, he’s sleeping with someone else? What are you talking about? It’s insane.” Crowe was referring to the idea that Maximus would betray Lucilla, even though she is the driving force behind his self-destructive path in the arena.
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Time proved him right. ‘Gladiator’ premiered to resounding critical and commercial success. Crowe had ‘won’ the battle against the screenwriters—a rare occurrence in modern cinema and a clear demonstration of his influence on the film.
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