Looking youthful, Russell sported a salt and pepper beard ... years after he starred in the original smash hit film Gladiator (2000), Crowe is set to battle the Roman Empire once again.

When you think of Gladiator, one of the very best movies ... But believe it or not, Russell Crowe nearly torpedoed the line because he thought it was, in his words, “shit.” ...

Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius in the film, a Roman general who trained under Russell Crowe's Maximus. Denzel Washington is also in Gladiator II. He plays an arms dealer who keeps gladiators ...