New Zealand actor Russell Crowe, who played the lead role of Maximus in the Oscar-winning film Gladiator, was immortalized in his armor in a two-meter-tall chocolate statue at a festival in Malta on Tuesday.
“Some people have bronze statues made out of them. Others made of marble. In Malta they made me one out of… chocolate!!! […] When the competition is over I can be eaten,” actor Russell Crowe humorously tweeted on Saturday, sharing a picture of the impressive edible work.
The life-size chocolate statue, which measures a total of 6 feet including the base and weighs around 150 kilograms, was designed by chocolate artist Tiziano Cassar as part of the 13th edition of the Hamrun Chocolate Festival in central Malta, according to The Guardian on Monday. Last year the event attracted more than 25,000 visitors.
Some people get bronze statues.
Some made of marble.
In Malta they made me out of… chocolate!!!
This weekend the world famous Hamrun Chocolate Festival is taking place in beautiful Malta.
The artist is Tiziano Cassar.When the competition is over, I’ll be available to eat… pic.twitter.com/y7pHd0Niwn
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) October 19, 2023
The chocolatier artist would have worked hard to produce two works, the one from the movie Gladiator as well as an oversized version of Mickey Mouse, to display during the festival.
But according to a publication by the artist on Facebook, it was a friend of Tiziano Cassar who contacted the actor directly to inform him of the existence of the work, British media reported.
“I am glad that the international actor and Oscar winner was mentioned in his social networks,” emphasized the chocolatier in his publication.
A sequel to the 2000 film Gladiator is currently reportedly being filmed in several locations, including Malta, although the character of Maximus would not be part of it, according to the actor.
“[La suite] has nothing to do with me. In this world, I’m dead. “Six feet underground,” he reportedly told reporters at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in the Czech Republic earlier this year, according to The Guardian.