“We don’t make movies like this”: Chadwick Boseman’s Film With Russell Crowe Suffered a Massive Blow After “Netflix fell asleep during the pitch”
Russell Crowe is one of the most talented actors in Hollywood. From his critically acclaimed movie A Beautiful Mind to the historical epic Gladiator, the actor’s filmography needs no description. The 1997 released L.A. Confidential dealt with the story of Los Angeles Police Department officers who ended up getting embroiled in a scandal.
L.A. Confidential is based on the neo-noir novel of author James Ellroy. However, not many people know that the second part of the crime drama was in development, but it did not see the light of day as it was turned down by a streaming magnate.
Netflix Official Fell Asleep During The Pitch Meeting Of Rusell Crowe’s L.A. Confidential 2
During the Toronto International Film Festival interview, screenwriter Brian Helgeland spoke about the second installment of Russell Crowe’s L.A. Confidential. He went on to reveal that an official from a reputed streaming platform had fallen asleep during their pitch meeting for the movie which never happened.
According to an interview with the reputed media outlet Deadline, the famous screenwriter explained-
“[Author] James Ellroy and I worked out an elaborate pitch for ‘L.A. Confidential 2’ that takes place during the Patty Hearst [era], when the Symbionese Liberation Army came down to L.A., and we had Guy Pearce attached and Russell [Crowe] and Chadwick Boseman playing a young cop working for Mayor Bradley. We pitched it to everyone. We had to go to Warner Bros. first and Warner Bros. is like, ‘We don’t make movies like this.’”
Brian Helgeland on the 'L.A. Confidential' sequel and why it never saw the light of day #TIFF23 pic.twitter.com/DWkzdkQmEg
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) September 9, 2023
He further added-
“Our executive at Netflix fell asleep during the pitch. They fell asleep and nodded off during the pitch. I got home, and said, ‘We can’t do that anymore,”
According to the speculations around L.A. Confidential 2, Marvel star Chadwick Boseman was supposed to be a part of the crime drama.
Russell Crowe On Ridley Scott’s upcoming project Gladiator 2
During his presence at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Russell Crowe was asked about his association with Ridley Scott’s upcoming project Gladiator 2. As reported by media outlet Variety, the actor said-
“They should be fucking paying me for the amount of questions I am asked about a film I am not even in. It has nothing to do with me. In that world, I am dead. Six feet under. But I do admit to a certain tinge of jealousy, because it reminds me of when I was younger and what it meant for me, in my life.”
He further explained-
“I don’t know anything about the cast, I don’t know anything about the plot. I am dead! But I know that if Ridley has decided to do a second part of the story, over 20 years later, he must have had very strong reasons. I can’t think of this movie being anything other than spectacular.”
Russell Crowe was present at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival and even entertained the audience with his witty replies and performed with his band. Ridley Scott-directed Gladiator is one of the most iconic projects of Russell Crowe. The star-studded cast of Gladiator 2 includes Denzel Washington, Oscar-nominated Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Barry Keoghan, and Connie Nielsen.
Gladiator 2 is set to hit the theatres on November 22, 2024.
