‘Land Of Bad’ Proves Russell Crowe Is a Netflix King Without Making Any Actual Netflix Movies [Video]

Earlier this month, the internet went crazy with anticipation when the trailer for Gladiator II was unveiled. The movie seems to have everything: legendary returning director Ridley Scott, CG-assisted historical spectacle (including a flooded Colosseum!), a hot young star (Paul Mescal), and beloved familiar faces like Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal. The one thing it appears to be missing? Russell Crowe, whose signature role as Maximus is much-alluded to, and shown in archival footage, but presumably not an on-screen character in the film. A big reason, of course, is that Maximus died at the end of Gladiator – though that didn’t stop an earlier sequel treatment for suggesting a story following the character into the afterlife, reflecting how vitally important Crowe’s participation once seemed. Now, swapping in an even-older Denzel as the film’s biggest marquee attraction makes sense. Crowe has admitted to feeling a little jealousyover not being able to work on it. …