November 8th 2024.
In the year 2000, a film called Gladiator was released, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Russell Crowe. The movie, directed by the talented Ridley Scott, was a huge success and even won an Oscar. Now, after more than 20 years, the director has returned to the colosseum for a highly-anticipated sequel, featuring a whole new generation of warriors. This time, the lead role will be played by Paul Mescal, while Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, and Joseph Quinn will also join the cast.
However, fans of the first film will be disappointed to hear that neither Joaquin Phoenix nor Russell Crowe will be returning for the sequel. In the original film, Joaquin played the role of the sadistic emperor Commodus, while Russell played the determined revenger. Their performances were praised and Phoenix even won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor the following year. However, according to director Ridley Scott, the scale of the film left Phoenix feeling daunted and nervous. This didn't sit well with his co-star Crowe, who reportedly called him "unprofessional" and threatened to quit the role.
Despite the initial tension, Ridley and Joaquin developed a close relationship on set, with the director even describing himself as a "big brother or a dad" to the actor. Looking back, Ridley admits that Gladiator was a "baptism of fire" for both of them. However, their feud was nothing compared to the chaos that ensued when Joaquin dropped out of another film just days before filming was supposed to begin.
The film, a gay romance set in 1930s LA, was a project that Joaquin had developed himself and was set to star in. However, he got "cold feet" and suddenly quit, leaving the production in disarray. Producer Christine Vachon took to social media to address the situation, defending her decision to cast a straight actor in a gay role. Despite the setback, Joaquin continued to make headlines with his role in the Joker sequel, which was met with mixed reviews and a disappointing theatrical run.
Now, fans can catch Joaquin on their screens as the infamous Joker in the film Joker: Folie à Deux, which recently came to streaming platforms. However, the film faced backlash from angry fans who criticized it for being "unnecessary" and for "betraying" the character of the Joker. Despite the controversy, Joaquin remains a talented and acclaimed actor, and we can't wait to see what he'll do next.
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