Joaquin Phoenix Tried to Drop Out of Original Gladiator, Recalls Director Ridley Scott: 'I Can't Do It'

According to director Ridley Scott, Joaquin Phoenix nearly dropped out of 2000's Gladiator.

While Scott, 86, spoke with The New York Times about his new sequel Gladiator II in an interview published Thursday, Nov. 7, reporter Kyle Buchanan asked to confirm a story he heard that Phoenix, 50, had to be convinced to stay on the project.

"He was in his prince’s outfit saying, 'I can’t do it.' I said, 'What?' " Scott recalled. "And Russell [Crowe] said, 'This is terribly unprofessional.' "

When asked how he went about persuading the actor to remain with the production, Scott said, "I can act as a big brother or dad. But I’m quite a friend of Joaquin’s. Gladiator was a baptism of fire for both of us in the beginning."

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Phoenix famously portrayed Gladiator's villain Commodus, who sets off the film's conflict by murdering his father, the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. That movie won five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe, now 60.

The question regarding Phoenix came up as Scott discussed actor Barry Keoghan, who was at one point locked to play a prominent antagonist role in Gladiator II. The director said that Keoghan dropped out in order to film the 2023 movie Saltburn instead.

"I think that’s maybe the best film I’ve seen this year," Scott said of Saltburn. "Anyway, Barry is one of the good ones, the same level as Joaquin Phoenix and [Gladiator II star Paul Mescal]. Barry is so complex and actually has it under control. I know he’s a bit of a challenge, but it’s worth it. Like deciding on Joaquin, it’s worth it." 

Oscar-winner Phoenix made headlines in August when he dropped out of a project with director Todd Haynes days before it was scheduled to begin filming.

The actor declined to share his reasoning for the departure during a Venice Film Festival press conference Sept. 4 while he promoted Joker: Folie à Deux, saying he did not "feel like that would be right" to share his reasonings without the filmmakers involved available to speak about their side of the situation.

Gladiator II is in theaters Nov. 22.