Bring back Russell Crowe in Master and Commander 2

By Iain Alexander 20 December 2011 / 19 comments

master and commander 2

It’s about time we had a sequel to Peter Weir’s masterful ‘Master and Commander : The Far Side of the World’ starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany. While I am not the first person to advocate that this movie be made, I want to make a point that Hollywood does have a knack for making sequels. Why not give Russell Crowe a 2nd run, or even a re-boot in 2012?

The first movie gave us a taste for life at sea, the hardships of the crew, the brutal weather, enduring battles and the balance of military power during the Napoleonic wars. Within that reality was a man with determination of steel who sought to outwit a superior opponent, the French frigate Acheron, on the far side of the world. Jack Aubrey (Crowe) kept his crew focused, and motivated them to believe they could win against difficult odds and outsmart a superior opponent. The movie has a superb ending, but it leaves me hungry for more.

Jack Aubrey is stubbornly brilliant as a lead character and I feel a sequel could take him much further. Audiences fell in love with Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow character, and looking at the box office numbers of the last 3 Pirates Of The Caribbean sequels, it’s obvious to me that people love adventure at sea. Are there any movies that fit this category in the coming year?

Master and Commander 2 could incorporate higher stakes, bigger battles, and more adventure, mixed with strong story and superb production values. Patrick O’brian’s novels give producers a wealth of information to adapt the sequel to screen. It could even go in the direction of a re-boot, but sticking with the authenticity of what we saw in the first, particularly Jack Aubrey’s defining character.

‘Master and Commander’ had soul, and the research behind it made it for me, the best movie of 2003. Aubrey also represented the idea of an underdog, which is popular in modern day culture. People can identify themselves with him and we all need a hero who is willing to defy impossible odds to win. Russell Crowe can definitely deliver this. So I wait for news as we say goodbye to 2011 to see whether this will ever happen.

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What do you think?

Eliza A.

I adore this film. Plot, acting, pace- all perfect. Then there is the fact that’s crazily historically accurate and has one of the most beautiful soundtracks for a film…
Anyway, there is indeed endless material for a sequel… perhaps they could delve into Maturin’s work in espionage? Or, if for some reason Hollywood wants to do their own thing, they could build from where the film ended and look further at the marvellously cunning French Captain…
Point is, this film was entirely excellent and deserves a sequel.
Heavyhitter

As someone who has read the entire series numerous times, (“listened to,” actually read MASTERFULLY by Patrick Tull), I really enjoyed Crowe and Bettany as Aubrey and Maturin. In an ideal world, they reset, making 20 of the novels into movies. (21 was more of a fragment – you’re better off not reading it as it will leave you disappointed because, well, it’s a FRAGMENT). As this is highly unlikely, I can say that any more of Crowe and Bettany in any conglomeration of O’Brian plots, would be great. I also echo the sentiment that I’d love to see a reasonably well-funded, sincere effort to do the entire series, perhaps with an unknown or lesser known cast.
Nobbyhewitt

Brilliant film, superb casting and a seriously great use of CGI. There are 21 epic books to use for further inspiration, there is so much mileage in O’Brian’s writing to turn into several big screen stunners. Add perfectly cast lead characters first time around, and the fact that Crowe wants to do it again, what’s to decide here?
Plus we have the chance to have something epic and intelligent from Hollywood instead of endless comic book remakes. Please give us a sequel. Preferably more than one!
Oliver

Master and Commander is a film that is mostly underestimated within cinema. I guess that a brilliant sequel to the film would also be a big chance for higher attention to this great film. I hope that producers and Mr Weir will understand the chances. We had way too much spider-men, flying superpower and fantasy in cinema the last years. Time is right for a new epic film, -for Master and Commander 2. This is a time of financial crisis, people are looking for certainty, for historical truth and for cultural and historical orientation. The market is perfectly right for Master and Commander 2. Don’t let the chances go! Kind regards from Germany!
Mark Mazzone

This is such an outstanding, beautifully-mounted film. The attention to detail is superb; the casting is brilliant. It is the type of film you can view over and over again, catching new things each time, while wondering at how it can still remain authentic and artfully-paced. In a perfect world, this would be considered a classic film.

Unfortunately, market-wise, perhaps it is “too” classic. Certainly, it’s not going to be a summer blockbuster–but aren’t there more strategic times of the year to plan a release? Great, family-friendly films are incredibly rare (sure, there are plenty of GOOD ones). It would be a shame if this were not allowed a follow-up.
Anders

What I would like to have pinned out on celloid, is the deep, ackward and sometimes hostile but always faithful friendship between Aubrey and Maturin.
Reading the books, the two are both fighting in my head to be the one I can most relate to. As they are two very different persons with different views on almost any subject, they also compliment eachother in a challenging way for any director to re-create on film.

The story, the battles, the Napoleonic era is just a set, an excuse to describe the most beautiful friendship of two characters, I have ever experienced in a book. Although not knowing the personality of Patrick O’Brian, I figure there are two possibities on how he could achieve this:

1. He was “Maturin” but wanted to be, or saw the necessity of a character like Aubrey.
2. He was both.

There is no way, a person could study and get to know different people to such an extent, if he is not one or both himself!
Ramses Einhorn

There was humor in the movie, though definitely not so much as in the books. On the other hand, I don’t think the movies or even a quite long TV series would be so very expensive. CGI is mature enough to be used widely, and most of the scenes take place on the same location. The props and sets made for the first movie would be enough for lets say 60 per cent of the new scenes, if they choose a story where Surprise is present.
Jim Terminiello

While I think Crowe is the perfect Aubrey, I feel the books lend themselves to a longer format a la the Hornblower series. Alas, Mr. Crowe would not take the hit to his bank account for such a lower budget approach. But, imagine taking a good crew of young actors and a visionary director and running through the entire series. (Even concocting an end to the final, unfinished book.) If well presented, the Aubrey/Maturin relationship would make for an engrossing series. The souce material is nothing short of sumptuous. Think I, Claudius at sea!
Lorraine Shaw

Oh yes, wouldn’t it be wonderful to see a sequel to Master and Commander BUT how can we expect to see an adult film when this country is fixated with cartoons. We see how Europeans flock to Russell Crowe films while the US movie reviewers criticize them..i.e., A Good Year….an exceptional film that was panned in our country. How about Proof of Life…I can go on and on but I despair. cheers
John Lee

Oh how I wish we could see more but I’m afraid it will be a long while. I’m sure that this issue is coming down to a matter of dollars and cents for the studio. It’s a hugely expensive production and the first movie didn’t have enough widespread appeal (you can count the time a woman was even on the screen in seconds) to make it the financial success needed to compel financing for a franchise. As vividly as shipboard life, battle, and manly camaraderie were portrayed in the movie, it’s but a very narrow sample of the many dramatic dishes O’Brian serves at his sumptuous 17-novel buffet, and it definitely wasn’t going to be enough to satisfy everyone’s appetite. I think Peter Weir and the rest of the creative team did the fans a disservice by ignoring all the political and romantic intrigue and humor present in the books that would’ve lent far greater widespread appeal, because here we all are waiting for more and complaining about it as a result.
Joe Plaice

I loved Master and Commander. Except for Paul Bettany. He just wasn’t Maturin. Maturin’s character wasn’t very well written in the film, either. Maturin could be a bumbler, but he was not the ineffectual whiner that Bettany and the film’s writers portrayed. Maturin was deadly with a sword and pistol, having survived dozens if not hundreds of duels in his life. He was a secret agent for the Office of Naval Affairs, a polyglot, and an opium addict, amongst other things. They need to flesh out his character and I wouldn’t be heartbroken if they got someone else to play him.
D.Johnson

I’ve read and reread all these novels a number of times Russell Crowe captured Jack Aubrey perfectly and Paul Bettany brought Stephen Maturin to life.. and lets not leave out Biily Boyd who portrayed Aubreys highly competent coxswain Barret Bonden .
Its such a shame a 2nd and even a 3rd movie hasnt been made. The duo of Aubrey and Maturin in my eyes ranks as one of the greatest literature duo of all time..Hollywood needs to wake up !
Mimi

Luthien, I think you’ve been misinformed. Yes Crowe is “supporting” in the new Superman film, but he’s co-starring in Les Miserables and Broken City. He did a cameo for his friend RZA in Man with the Iron Fist. He has not signed on to any other films as of now.

No one else is even imaginable as Capt. Jack Aubrey.
R.Hummel

OBrian’s novels are tremendous, plenty great material there. I’m also a fan of the original movie and although not exactly true to the novels still the screenplay captured their essence. Good casting too and would be love to see more of the same.

Come on Hollywood, just do it already!
jepressman

Those comments about Russell Crowe’s films not making billions is nonsense. In this Hollywood you could say that about most actors working today. You could include some animated actors as well,like say some chipmunks or penguins.Master and Commander made some 210 millions worldwide and is well regarded as a well made film,primarily because Crowe played Aubrey so well. The film was nominated for best picture.Now who else could play Aubrey as effectively,with gravitas and humor.What about some of these super hero guys such as Reynolds, or Worthington or Lautner.I wouldn’t watch such a film. Master and Commander came up in the same year as Pirates of the Caribbean,a fantasy film and also Lord of the Rings another fantasy film. M&C is not fantasy,it was played for real. Crowe is the actor to play Aubrey.
Janet Nickell

I would love to see a sequel. O’Brian left so much wonderful material. But it has to be Crowe & Bettany. They were the soul of the movie.
Luthien

While I enjoyed “Master and Commander” and would look forward to such a sequel, I’d be surprised if Crowe were given the lead:
1) Most of his more recent movies – State of Play, Body of Lies, the Next Three Days – didn’t do well at the box office and a M&C 2 would cost big bucks.
2) He will play a supporting role in his next four movies, which doesn’t bode well for future offers.

Like it, don’t like it – doesn’t change a thing. Hollywood runs on money and Russell hasn’t been raking it in for the studios lately. I’m just saying…
Joan Hager

Funny this should turn up on Facebook today . My husband and I were just talking about Master and Commander last night and how, considering the number of books there are ( my husband has them all) , there hasn’t been a sequel – It was a wonderful movie — great acting, history, adventure, action and very interesting characters. – Considering the number of Pirates of the Caribbean there have been and probably will be and that there is already a sequel to Sherlock Holmes, why no Master and Commander II? Maybe schedule conflicts for Russell Crowe? He would definitely have to be in it
Lewis E. Ward, Figure in the Wood

Peter Weir could also weave in Paul Bettany character’s interest and passion for biology. This is pre-Darwinian work that may have influenced Darwin. There must be a body of literature and journals from British Sea voyages that sparked Charles Darwin.