Crowe praises Cave's 'Gladiator' script

Russell Crowe has praised Nick Cave's script for a sequel to Gladiator.

Although the project has now been abandoned, the actor has praised Cave's writing skills and hopes that they can work together in the future.

"It was one of the best scripts I've ever read," Crowe, who is currently filming a movie in Provence with Gladiator director Ridley Scott, told Australian newspaper The Sunday Telegraph.

"Sir Ridley and I were talking over a concept – one that very few people could grasp. I invited Nick to join into that process. That work will never make it to the screen; we didn't complete the idea.

"Rid got sidetracked by Jerusalem, I went into the Depression (Cinderella Man) and we got together again giggling amongst the vines, here in Provence, instead. I'm looking forward to working with Nick on something special one day.

"He has an amazing gift, a level of spirituality and self-realisation in his writing you don't often find. A Hemingway or Xavier Herbert of our time."