Ridley Scott reveals Joaquin Phoenix’s cold feet on Gladiator; Crowe calls it ‘unprofessional

Director Ridley Scott recently revealed in an interview with The New York Times that actor Joaquin Phoenix initially struggled with his role in the 2000 epic Gladiator, where he portrayed the villain Commodus opposite Russell Crowe’s Maximus. 

According to Scott, Phoenix experienced a moment of doubt on set, which led to a tense exchange with Crowe. Phoenix, dressed in his character’s royal attire, reportedly said, “I can’t do it,” prompting Crowe to call the situation “terribly unprofessional.” Despite the conflict, Scott managed to convince Phoenix to continue, describing his role as a mentor who supported Phoenix through the challenging project. Both Crowe and Phoenix ultimately received Academy Award nominations for their performances, with Crowe winning the Oscar for Best Actor.

Scott and Phoenix have since collaborated again, reuniting for the 2023 historical drama Napoleon. Scott’s comments come amidst renewed public interest in Phoenix’s history of selective roles, particularly after he recently withdrew from Todd Haynes' upcoming film just days before production was set to begin, leading the project to be shelved. Phoenix's departure from Haynes' film echoes his earlier history, with Split star James McAvoy sharing on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that he had been cast at short notice after Phoenix reportedly dropped out.

Representatives for Phoenix and Crowe have yet to comment on Scott’s account of events during Gladiator’s production, which highlights both the pressures and complexities of high-stakes filmmaking.

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