Director: Russell Crowe called Joaquin Phoenix's attempt to quit 'Gladiator' "terribly unprofessional."

From the film "Gladiator," Ridley Scott revealed a heated moment that occurred behind the scenes.

Joaquin Phoenix almost declined to portray the villainous character of Commodus in the 2000 action film, as stated by Scott.

The director of "Gladiator" told The New York Times that he said, "I can't do it," while wearing his prince's outfit.

Scott added that Russell Crowe said, "This is terribly unprofessional."

The director inquired about convincing someone to remain on a movie set, to which Scott responded, "I can act as a big brother or father. However, I am quite close friends with Joaquin. 'Gladiator' marked our first experience together in the industry."

Todd Haynes' new film was about to begin production when Phoenix dropped out, and his comments followed.

In the upcoming "Gladiator II" film, Barry Keoghan was initially cast as a villain but withdrew at the last minute. Scott made a comparison between Keoghan and Phoenix.

"Scott said that Barry got locked into 'Saltburn,' and he thinks it's the best film he's seen this year. Barry is one of the good ones, just like Joaquin Phoenix. He's complex and in control, even though he can be challenging. It's worth it, just like deciding on Joaquin."

Planet Chronicle Digital did not receive an immediate response from Scott, Phoenix, or Crowe when requested a comment.

The sequel will feature Paul Mescal as Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) from the original movie, who witnessed Maximus' death in the gladiator ring and seeks revenge against Commodus (Phoenix), the cruel emperor and Lucius' uncle.

Last year, Crowe confessed that he almost abandoned "Gladiator" due to his belief that the script was "complete nonsense."

At the time, he told Vanity Fair that he was confident in his abilities as a leading man in the movie "Gladiator," but he wasn't confident in the world surrounding him.

"The concept we were working on was excellent, but the script was terrible. It was complete rubbish. It contained many unusual sequences, including one about chariots," he said.

Crowe was concerned that none of the storylines would connect with the audience.

"It won't resonate with a contemporary audience. They'll likely react with confusion, saying, 'What the hell is all this?'" he stated.

Despite almost abandoning "Gladiator," Crowe admitted that the film had a profound impact on his life and he felt a tinge of envy towards the new movie.

At the time, Crowe admitted to feeling slightly jealous because he was a much younger man and the experience was significant in his life.

"The film's legs have been incredible for me, as it changed the way people viewed me and my profession. Despite being fortunate to work on many big movies, this film stands out as a life-changing experience."

Crowe won five Oscars, including best picture and best actor, for his role in 'Gladiator,' which received 12 nominations.