Joaquin Phoenix Nearly Left Gladiator Set Says Ridley Scott

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As a seasoned cinephile who has witnessed the evolution of cinema through the decades, I find it fascinating to delve into the lives and careers of our beloved actors, particularly Joaquin Phoenix. His journey in Hollywood is nothing short of captivating, with his ability to embody characters so profoundly that they leave an indelible mark on our collective consciousness.

While director Ridley Scott is busy promoting “Gladiator II”, it’s no surprise that he’s sharing anecdotes from the production of its Academy Award-winning predecessor, “Gladiator”. The movie featured Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, but there was a possibility that the latter might have left the project due to apprehensions during filming.

In an interview with The New York Times, Scott shared that Phoenix experienced some form of anxiety during the filming of the historical epic and expressed a desire to depart from the movie. Not surprisingly, the director claimed that Crowe considered Phoenix’s behavior as being “very unprofessional.” Eventually, Phoenix was persuaded to remain involved, and everything turned out well in the end. However, it seems that Phoenix has a tendency to develop second thoughts after agreeing to take on projects.

[Joaquin] was dressed as a prince, expressing he couldn’t proceed. I asked, ‘What did you say?’ To which Russell replied, ‘This behavior is extremely unsuitable for a professional setting.’

It seems that Scott and Phoenix formed their professional bond during the filming of Gladiator, and they have a strong rapport now. The director was inquired about what persuaded the Academy Award-winning Joker actor to continue on the project, and Scott responded, “I can play the role of an older brother or father figure. However, Joaquin and I are more like friends. Gladiator served as a trial by fire for both of us initially.” Despite any initial apprehension Phoenix may have had, he certainly delivered one of his finest performances as the malevolent Commodus.

Joaquin Phoenix Has a Habit of Getting Cold Feet on Projects

Recently, there have been a few instances suggesting that Phoenix has been hesitant about commitments for upcoming projects. This uncertainty was ignited by his decision to withdraw from Todd Haynes’ yet-untitled gay romance film just five days before production was set to start. Since the project’s success relied heavily on Phoenix’s involvement due to investor demands, his withdrawal resulted in the postponement of the project, causing job losses for several people and potential financial losses as well.

Initially, when the news about Phoenix leaving his upcoming project with Scott, titled “Napoleon” in 2023, surfaced, it was found out that he was on the verge of departing. However, Paul Thomas Anderson stepped in and rewrote the script for the historical epic, persuading Phoenix to stay. In a related story about “Gladiator”, Scott admitted that this occurred, but he jokingly mentioned that Phoenix was busy working on “Licorice Pizza” and was advising him on how to direct “Napoleon”. He added humorously, “It turned into quite a laugh fest actually. The three of us in this room were screaming with laughter.

On another occasion, it was announced that James McAvoy would replace Joaquin Phoenix in M. Night Shyamalan’s Split, a role initially intended for Phoenix due to their previous collaborations on Signs and The Village. However, Phoenix dropped out just weeks before production began, giving McAvoy minimal time to prepare for his multiple character roles. Although this substitution may have seemed risky at first, it ultimately resulted in an outstanding performance by McAvoy, suggesting a recurring pattern of behavior from Phoenix.

Phoenix certainly gained the confidence he needed to take on Gladiator, presenting the perfect villain to go up against Crowe’s Maximus Decimus Meridius. It also led to his first Oscar nomination, scoring a Best Supporting Actor nod for his work.

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2024-11-08 18:31