Sharing a Deep Bond With His Horse in Oscar-Winning Performance Gladiator, ‘Maximus’ Actor Had Amazing Reunion in Another Ridley Scott Film Once

At the dawn of this century, released a movie called ‘Gladiator’ that changed the fortunes of its lead actor in Hollywood going forward. Russell Crowe became a sensation in the industry after he won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the film. The movie, based on ancient Rome, also starred Joaquin Phoenix, Richard Harris, and Connie Nielsen, in the lead, and it won an Oscar for Best Film as well. The movie had a fair bit of horse riding in it, faster than any equestrian would, and Russell Crowe had his own horse for the bulk of his scenes. 10 years later, when he did another movie with director Ridley Scott, he met the same horse again on the sets.

The thoroughbred-gelding George was responsible for carrying Crowe on his back throughout the film. Russell Crowe, who played a Roman soldier-turned-Gladiator called Maximus Decimus Meridius, had a pivotal scene riding the horse to his family in the film. Crowe insisted, that a decade later, George remembered everything.

Russell Crowe and his horse from Gladiator never forgot each other

Russell Crowe visited the sets of ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’, hosted by the namesake comedian, in 2019. When there, Colbert brought up the little-known fact about the time, when Crowe reunited with his horse from Gladiator in the sets of Robin Hood (2010), another Ridley Scott film.

Colbert presented a photo frame of Crowe riding the horse from Gladiator when Crowe immediately identified George. He said, “That’s George. Many years later I was on Robin Hood and George was assigned to one of the other characters. I had a little chat with George”. It was a remarkable thing for a horse to survive for more than 10 years, and that too when put under such duress, Colbert later expressed.

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The horse recognized Crowe on the sets of Robin Hood, which was released 10 years after Gladiator. This surprised Colbert, to which Crowe said, “If it’s a deep relationship with a horse or cow, for that matter, they will, or all animals, will remember you if you’ve connected with them”. An applause from everyone followed.

Russell Crowe’s horseriding scenes contributed to Gladiator’s success

Rusell Crowe, however, did not pass up the opportunity of meeting George and not reminding him of the time they spent together. He told Colbert and his audience members, “I went up to George and I said to him very quietly, ‘Hello George’. He sort of put his head down and sort of pushed into my chest a little bit, and I said, ‘Do you realize, we won the Academy Award’!” There were smiles and laughter from everyone in the studio when he said that.

Crowe then further said that he believed George responded as if he knew what Crowe was talking about. Just as humans develop a strong bond with horses, it is vice versa for them. Viggo Mortensen too developed a similar friendship with his horse Uraeus during the shoot of The Lord of the Rings. So much so, that he adopted it.

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Crowe said, “And call me crazy, but he gave every indication that he already knew that”. It’s been 23 years since Gladiator was released, and the movie that worked its charm on the audience then still has its effect on people in some form or another.