Russell Crowe will once again take on the ancient Romans in "The Last Druid," a quarter century after his Oscar-winning role in "Gladiator."
The 60-year-old actor will lead the cast of the new film, which tells the story of a Roman emperor who discovers a secluded Druid stronghold in the mountains of Caledonia.
Crowe will take on the role of a peaceful Celtic elder who is forced to take up arms to protect his family and people from destruction.
The role comes almost 25 years after his Academy Award-winning portrayal of Maximus Decimus Meridius in Sir Ridley Scott's historical epic Gladiator.
Additional casting for the project is currently underway. It is being directed by William Eubank from a script he wrote with Phil Gauthorne and his brother Carlyle Eubank.
ACG is launching sales of the film at the American Film Market to be held in Las Vegas next week.
Russell will not star in Gladiator II following Maximus' death at the end of the original 2000 film. He previously admitted he was "slightly uncomfortable" about making a sequel with Paul Mescal in the lead role.
"I'm a little uncomfortable that they're making another movie - because, of course, I'm dead and I have no say in what gets made. But a couple of things I've heard, I'm thinking, 'No, no, no, that's not in the moral path of this particular character." But I can't say anything, it's not my place. So we'll see what it looks like," Crowe said on the "Kyle Meredith with..." podcast.
He explained that the sequel evokes feelings of "melancholy" and "jealousy" because the first film was such an important influence on his film career.
"I think about the age I was when I made that film, and all the things that happened after it, the doors that film opened for me. I'm just being completely honest: there's definitely a touch of melancholy, a touch of jealousy. I remember when I had muscles," said the "A Beautiful Mind" star. | BGNES
