“I didn’t want to be Wolfy the General”: Before Becoming Zeus, Russell Crowe Turned Down One of the Biggest Roles in Superhero History for Absurd Reason

Russell Crowe continues to strengthen his fan following with his impeccable filmography after having his breakthrough in the 1990s with the Romper Stomper film. His career received a major boost after he portrayed his Oscar-winning role in 2000’s Gladiator.

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However, this career would have touched new heights had he agreed to star as a superhero. However, he chose to turn down a major role in the X-Men franchise and the reason might caught you off-guard. 

Russell Crowe Turned Down X-Men’s Wolverine Role 

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The 59-year-old actor had established himself among the top stars in Hollywood back in the 2000s. At the time, Bryan Singer’s X-Men hit the theatres introducing Wolverine however the director wanted Russell Crowe to play the mutant role. But the former had different plans as he refused the offer explaining that his friend [Singer] was “really putting the pressure on” him to portray the superhero role. 

As to why he turned it down, he explained that the part’s association with wolves led him to make that decision. He would not want to typecast as he told news.com.au, 

“If you remember, [Crowe’s Gladiator character] Maximus has a wolf at the centre of his cuirass, and he has a wolf as his companion at the beginning of the film, which I thought was going to be a bigger deal [at the time]. So I said no, because I didn’t want to be ‘Wolfy the general’ and then ‘Wolfy the other bloke,’ like now I’m Mr. Wolfman. I can only do movies that have something to do with wolves.”

While his hesitation to typecast his role originated from misunderstanding, it eventually helped his friend, Hugh Jackman as he was the one who recommended him to the director. 

Russell Crowe Recommended Hugh Jackman for Wolverine

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Crowe eventually offered a suggestion to the director to consider Jackman for the role, who went on to play the character for several years. The Prestige actor told Australian radio station Triple M 104.9FM about how the former helped him in getting his breakthrough role. 

“Bryan Singer asked Rusty [Crowe] to do Wolverine, and he said, ‘Nah mate I’ve just done Gladiator, it’s not for me but you should look at this guy…'”

He even credited the actor for molding his career as he told EW in 2012, 

“Russell (Crowe) has given me advice several times at key moments in my life,” Jackman shared. “I owe him because two of the biggest roles I’ve ever had in my life, he turned down — and suggested me for them.”

The Noah actor also recommended him to play the role of The Drover in Baz Luhrmann’s Australia opposite Nicole Kidman. Meanwhile, Crowe got his chance to feature in the superhero franchise as he portrayed the role of Zeus in MCU’s Thor: Love and Thunder.

Source: news.com.au