Russell Crowe Names His Wildest Movie Scene Ever

Russell Crowe once opened up about the most unusual scene he’s ever filmed, and it’s a wild one. In an interview with GQ, the actor recalled a project that few people may even remember, but that he loved being a part of.

“I went to China and I made The Man with the Iron Fists, directed by RZA from the Wu-Tang Clan,” Crowe said.

“People were like, ‘What the hell are you doing that for?’ And I was like: ‘Well, I really believe in Bobby Diggs, RZA’. I definitely know that he’s got a director’s brain and that he understands film, and when else am I ever gonna get to play a character like this? Who’s, like, blowing bubbles in a bath because he’s pulling a*a* beads out of [someone] in Shanghai, in whatever the year was supposed to be? Peter Weir didn’t ask me to do that.”

The Man with the Iron Fists, released in 2012, is a martial arts film directed by RZA and co-written with Eli Roth. The movie stars RZA, Crowe, Lucy Liu, Cung Le, Byron Mann, Rick Yune, Dave Bautista, and Jamie Chung. Set in 19th century China, it follows a group of lone warriors who must unite to defeat a common enemy and protect their home, Jungle Village.

The idea for the movie was first pitched by RZA in 2005, and it took several years before financial backing was secured in 2010. Filming started in December 2010 with a $15 million budget and wrapped by March 2011. The production was primarily shot in Shanghai and other locations across China. RZA and Howard Drossin composed the musical score, while RZA also produced the film’s soundtrack, featuring new songs from various artists. The soundtrack was promoted through a series of concerts around the time of the film’s release.

The film hit North American theaters on November 2, 2012. Critics were split, praising its action sequences and homage to martial arts films but noting a lack of originality and refinement in direction. Crowe’s performance, along with Byron Mann’s, received positive attention. At the box office, the film earned $20.5 million.

Crowe’s story about his role highlights the quirky and unexpected experiences actors sometimes take on for the sake of art and collaboration. It’s clear he enjoyed the chance to step into such an outlandish role, even if it was one of the strangest of his career.

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