Rupert Everett Reveals He Asked For A Role In ‘Gladiator’, Got “The American No” From Ridley Scott

Rupert Everett has revealed he asked Ridley Scott for a role in the upcoming Gladiator II, but to no avail.

The British actor has written a new book called The American No, which he describes as the process of being courted by Hollywood, with producers waxing lyrical about a script and how they “can’t wait to work with you” but with no result.

Everett told The Times of London he appeared in Ridley Scott’s 2023 epic Napoleon as the Duke of Wellington, and went on to phone him about a role in Scott’s big-budget sequel to his 2000 blockbuster Gladiator.

Everett said: “I rang him up and said, ‘Please, Ridley, can I be in Gladiator?” and he said, ‘OK, I’ll see what I can do.’ And then nothing happened.” He continued: “He’s doing another film and I’m hoping to get into that.”

The actor has starred in films including My Best Friend’s Wedding with Julia Roberts and The Next Best Thing with Madonna. He is currently on screen in Netflix hit Emily in Paris, where he plays Italian designer Giorgio Barbieri.