“Terribly unprofessional” Joaquin Phoenix attacked by Russell Crowe after being scared in Ridley Scott's film Gladiator

News culture “Terribly unprofessional” Joaquin Phoenix attacked by Russell Crowe after being scared in Ridley Scott's film Gladiator

Joaquin Phoenix's attitude criticized by Russell Crowe on the set of Gladiator

There are sometimes shoots during which certain actors do not necessarily have good memories of their collaboration with some of their counterparts. More than twenty years ago, during the filming of Gladiator, It's Joaquin Phoenix's attitude that stuck in actor Russell Crowe's throatheadliner of the film for his role as Maximus Decimus Meridius, former commander-in-chief of the Northern Armies and general of the Felix Legions who became a slave then a gladiator. During this film, he finds himself face to face with Commodus, the jealous son of the emperor who precipitated the fall of Maximus.

At this time, Joaquin Phoenix was only at the beginning of his career and sometimes gave the impression of having a few whims.. In a recent interview given au New York TimesRidley Scott, director of the film and its sequel (Gladiator 2in theaters from next Wednesday), explained that the actor had been scared on the film set and that he had almost left the project, even though he had just put on the costume of Prince Commodus. Witness to this scene between Joaquin Phoenix and the director, Russell Crowe then retorted to his friend, aged around twenty, that his attitude was “ terribly unprofessional ».

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The beginning of the whims for actor Joaquin Phoenix, it even cost some people dearly!

Finally, as Ridley Scott explained, he managed to convince Joaquin Phoenix to continue filming and, above all, to see it through to the end. Even today, Joaquin Phoenix's reputation is tarnished by this type of behavior. If he went through with his participation in the film Joker: Folie à Deux – destroyed by criticism but praised by video game designer Hideo Kojima -, his notorious reluctance recently had serious consequences on the filming of Todd Haynes' next film. Yet greatly involved in the production of the film – he himself proposed the project, supported its development and contributed to the script -, he finally made the decision to cancel his participation… five days before the start of filming!

Following these revelations, the actor did not provide any precise explanation, thus fueling the capricious side that sticks to him in the world of cinema. In any case, the anecdote from the filming of Gladiator did not put an end to the collaboration between Joaquin Phoenix and Ridley Scott. The duo also met for the filming of Napoleon…which also almost collapsed at one point due to a claim from Phoenix. He had demanded that Paul Thomas Anderson take charge of rewriting the script, under penalty of leaving the set. Yet another threat which, ultimately, will not have been carried out. Clearly, Joaquin Phoenix doesn't seem… easy when it comes to participating in a film!