Ridley Scottโs Gladiator has been immortalised within the pantheon of legendary-tier films. But you may be surprised to discover there was a time when that didnโt remotely seem like a possibility, due to the piss-poor quality of its script.
It was such a mess, in fact, that it was actively kept away from Russell Crowe himself prior to signing on for the film โ despite being in the leading role as Maximus Decimus Meridius.
โGladiator was a unique experience because the script that they had was so bad โ it was just so bad,โ Crowe recounted to Jimmy Fallon during a recent appearance on The Tonight Show.
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โThe producer did not know I was able to already get a copy, but the thing he said was, โI donโt want to send you the document we have because you wonโt respond to it. But I want to encourage you to have a meeting with Ridley Scott. And hereโs the thing I want you to think about: Itโs 180 AD, youโre a Roman general, and youโre being directed by Ridley Scott.'โ
Of course, Crowe would take that fateful meeting where he was sold on Scottโs vision; later enduring what has since been universally acknowledged as a โdisasterโ of a production process, wherein a shocking amount of improvisation occurred, eventually generating overwhelming buzz during award season, and even earning Crowe himself an Academy Award for Best Actor.
I think we should all be thankful it worked out.
Watch the full-length interview below.
