Overview

• Artist Tiziano Cassar created a life-sized chocolate statue of Russell Crowe's Gladiator character, Maximus, for the Hamrun Chocolate Festival in Malta.
• Russell Crowe acknowledged the statue on social media, jokingly stating that he will be 'available to eat' after the competition.
• Cassar expressed his honor on Facebook to have his work recognised by Russell Crowe, reflecting the substantial buzz generated online by the statue.
• The chocolate tribute underlines the enduring popularity of 'Gladiator' more than 20 years after its release, timely for an upcoming sequel directed by Ridley Scott.
• Unlike the chocolate statue, Crowe will not be involved in 'Gladiator 2', stating to Variety in July, 'In that world, I am dead. Six feet under.'