Gladiator director Ridley Scott reveals curt exchange between Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix on 2000 film

Ridley Scott revealed the rather tense exchange between Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix on set of the 2000 film, Gladiator.

The British filmmaker, 86, directed the Oscar-winning movie over two decades ago - and also stepped behind the camera once again for the anticipated sequel which is set to hit theaters later this month on November 22.

The original historical epic starred both Crowe and Phoenix in leading roles - and Scott recalled a conversation amongst the pair while filming was taking place.

During an interview with the The New York Times , the director explained that Joaquin 'was in his prince's outfit saying, "I can't do it," I said, "What?"'

Upon hearing Phoenix's comments at the time, Russell had said in response, 'This is terribly unprofessional.'

In regards to how he eventually convinced the Joker star to stay, Ridley explained to the outlet, 'I can act as a big brother or dad. But I'm quite a friend of Joaquin's.'

The filmmaker then added that, 'Gladiator was a baptism of fire for both of us in the beginning.'

Gladiator premiered in theaters back in May 2000 - and garnered critical praise upon its release, as well as winning five Academy Awards, such as Best Picture.

Russell garnered an Oscar for Best Actor for his performance, and Joaquin also received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Phoenix had taken on the role of antagonist, Commodus, and Crowe portrayed the character of Maximus Decimus Meridius.

The premise had followed, 'A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery,' per IMDB .

The historical action film was a box office success and raked in $465.4 million on a budget of $103 million.

And 24 years later, the long-awaited sequel will hit theaters in the U.S. starting on November 22 - and stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielson and Joseph Quinn.

Ridley is once again directing the movie - and a third installment in the franchise is currently in development.

During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter , Scott opened up about the sequel and casting Paul Mescal in the leading role.

Mescal is known for appearing in other projects such as the miniseries Normal People and 2022 film Aftersun.

'My job is to spot actors. I use a very good casting directors, but when I'm prepping something, I've already got somebody in mind,' Ridley said.

'I binge TV and saw this thing, Normal People, and thought: "This kid [Paul Mescal] is interesting," and, "F**k me, he looks like Richard Harris."

'Suddenly it came together: "This is Lucius,"' Scott added, referencing to the role Mescal portrays in Gladiator II. 'And from that I asked him, "Do you want to do the film?"'

When asked if Paul's performance compares to Crowe's, the filmmaker replied, 'It's a different direction.'

'They're both theatrical. Paul is very much a theater actor, that's his thing. He asked me, "You like theater?" I said, "No, I fall asleep." He just laughed.'

Earlier this month, Mescal appeared on Nova 96.9's Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Richie to reveal whether he heard from Russell since being cast in the Gladiator sequel.

'I didn't, no,' the Irish-born actor said. 'I do have this vague fantasy of, like, in a year or two down the line, like having a beer with him in some kind of city somewhere in Europe.'

'[We would be] just like sit there trading store stories like I would love that,' Paul added.

Crowe previously shared his thoughts on the sequel while at the Karlovy Vary Film festival last year in July, per Variety.

'They should be f***ing paying me for the amount of questions I am asked about a film I am not even in,' he expressed.

'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.'

The actor added at the time, '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.'

Gladiator II has already received Oscar buzz ahead of its official release in theaters later this month.

Critics have labeled the anticipated movie as the 'best movie of the year' and a 'true epic.'