Russell Crowe: He doesn't appear in "Gladiator 2".

Russell Crowe (58) has finally buried rumors that he will be seen in "Gladiator 2".

Russell Crowe: He doesn't appear in "Gladiator 2".

Russell Crowe (58) has finally buried rumors that he will be seen in "Gladiator 2". "I'm not involved," he said in an interview on "The Jonathan Ross Show," airing Saturday (April 1), according to media reports.

His Oscar-winning Maximus character dies in the 2000 original, but there has been speculation that he might return in flashbacks. After all, thanks to digital rejuvenation technology, this would not be a problem. However, according to Crowe, Maximus is not to be seen, although he will be present - in the tomb. "I think if they shoot in the Colosseum I'll be about 6 feet underground," the performer said.

Although he's recently met director Ridley Scott, 85, who is directing both the original and the sequel, there have been no talks of a comeback. "I've had dinner with Ridley a few times since he started this thing - but we haven't really talked about what he's doing," Crowe said.

Gladiator 2 is slated to hit theaters in 2024. Shooting star Paul Mescal (27), who was nominated for an Oscar this year for his leading role in "Aftersun", takes on the leading role. "I've heard this young man is a good guy and I wish him the best of luck," Crowe said in a recent radio interview.

Crowe's next film "The Pope's Exorcist" starts in German cinemas on April 6th. In it, the New Zealander plays the priest Gabriele Amorth (1925-2016), at the time the Vatican's top exorcist.

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