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Join Telegram ChannelRidley Scott remembers that 25 years ago he had to convince his actor to stay in Rome…
This is an anecdote that will not help the current reputation of Joaquin Phoenix in Hollywood. In turmoil for several weeks, particularly since he slammed the door on Todd Haynes' film a few days before filming, Joaquin Phoenix is being tossed around today by Ridley Scottwho recounts in a major interview with the New York Times (via Entertainment Weekly) how the filming of Gladiatorat the beginning of 1999, almost collapsed because of the star.
“Joaquin was wearing his prince costume and suddenly said to me, 'I can't do it.' I said to him, 'What?' And Russell Crowe got annoyed and said his behavior was horribly unprofessional! “
Visibly, Joaquin Phoenix had a moment of doubt or panic and had to be convinced to stay on to play Emperor Commodus (which ultimately earned him an Oscar nomination).
Ridley Scott continues his anecdote and explains that he no longer really knows how he managed to keep him at the dock. “I can play the role of a big brother or a father on set… But here, I am a very good friend of Joaquin. And certainly that Gladiator was a baptism of fire for our relationship…”
Especially since Phoenix and Scott met again 25 years later to film Napoleon (2023) and here again, the actor had to be persuaded not to slam the door in the middle of production…