“How many temper tantrums does a three-time Oscar nominee have to throw to get some respect around here?”
Cinderella Man Russell Crowe might just regret playing prima donna on Baz Luhrmann’s latest movie, a war epic set in 1942. The film was set to star Crowe and Nicole Kidman as lovers in the Australian outback…until Crowe’s on-set belligerence led Luhrmann to replace his notoriously difficult star with fellow Aussie actor Heath Ledger.
According to Cinematical:
Sweet, cuddly Russell Crowe demanded script-approval rights on the project, and threatened to leave if Luhrmann and his producers failed to give in. In a move that was clearly a huge shock to Crowe, Luhrmann apparently said “Right. That’s you off then.” Once his bluff was called, Crowe was all, “Ah ha. Baz, you know I’m a kidder. Script approval? I don’t need that. It’s all good. Seriously. When do we start?” But, sadly, twas too late and his place had been taken by a gay cowboy.
This one is fun on so very many levels: Russell Crowe continues “fightin’ round the world.” Heath Ledger takes on a role as the love interest of his real-life ex-girlfriend’s best friend. The skinny gay cowboy triumphs over the burly boxing gladiator. And little old Baz Luhrmann wins the respect of every director in Hollywood.
