Russell Crowe is one of those actors who just keeps doing interesting things. Whether he is on screen as a gladiator or a detective or now even making music he always has something new going on. Recently a few exciting things have come to light about him. It looks like he is busy with more than just acting. It is always fascinating to see what he will do next.
One of his older movies, The Nice Guys, is coming to Paramount+ on June 1. If you have not seen this one it is worth a watch. Back in 2016 when it first came out many people liked it but it did not do so well at the box office. This buddy action movie stars Crowe and Ryan Gosling as a mismatched private eye and a hired enforcer in 1977 Los Angeles. They end up working together to solve a missing girl case and a seemingly unrelated death. It is a really fun movie with great reviews but it just did not make enough money to get a sequel. Gosling even joked that the movie opened against Angry Birds and that cartoon got a sequel while The Nice Guys did not. I think it is great it is getting a second life on streaming.
Even though a sequel is not currently being made fans still want one. Last year people were asking Crowe on X what it would take to get a sequel going. Crowe had praised Gosling’s movie The Fall Guy and that sparked the conversation. It is a testament to how much people enjoyed their chemistry in the movie. It is good to see that even almost a decade later there is still interest in these characters and their adventures. Maybe one day we will get to see them again.
Russell Crowe's Latest Projects Take Him From Cold War Spies To Music Stages
Exploring The Actor's Diverse Roles And Unexpected Musical Collaborations
Beyond older films finding new homes Crowe has been hard at work on fresh projects. He is starring in an upcoming Cold War spy movie called Billion Dollar Spy. This film is currently being made in Hungary. It looks like a serious and tense movie. Crowe plays Adolf Tolkachev. Tolkachev was an important asset for the CIA during the Cold War. He was not happy with the Soviet government and risked his life to give thousands of top-secret documents to the US. A picture of Tolkachev even hangs in the CIA’s headquarters in Langley Virginia. It is the only picture of a non-American there. This shows how important he was.
Harry Lawtey plays Tolkachev's CIA handler Tom Lenihan in Moscow. Tony Goldwyn Rufus Sewell and Justin Theroux are also in the movie. BAFTA-winner Amma Asante is directing it. The film is based on a book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author David E Hoffman. The script was adapted by Ben August and Oscar-winner Stephen Gaghan. This sounds like a very exciting and serious film. It shows Crowe taking on another complex character. I always find it interesting when actors choose roles that are so different from each other.
In a surprising turn, Russell Crowe has also stepped into the music world. He teamed up with Italian singer Zucchero for a stripped-down version of Pearl Jam’s song "Just Breathe". Their version was on the deluxe edition of Zucchero’s Discover II album last November. Fans have really liked it. It turns out Crowe has been involved in music for years which many people might not know. I think this is a cool side of him to see.
So how did this music collaboration happen? The two met in Sydney in early 2023. They met thanks to their mutual friend Australian rocker Jimmy Barnes. After one of Zucchero’s shows they hung out had some Guinness which is Crowe’s favorite and hit it off. A few months later Crowe played a show in Italy with his band Indoor Garden Party. They reconnected then the idea for the cover song came up. Zucchero joked about Crowe traveling with his own Guinness stash. He also said he was a fan of Crowe as an actor and now maybe a little bit as a singer too. They recorded their parts separately Crowe in Australia and Zucchero in Italy. Then they mixed it all together.
"Just Breathe" was a very fitting song choice. It is off Pearl Jam’s 2009 album Backspacer. It is a very emotional and acoustic song about love gratitude and loss. Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder once called it "the closest thing to a love song we’ve done." The song became a quiet classic and was in movies and TV shows. For Zucchero it is a personal favorite. Crowe said the song felt like their story "two friends one disappears stops calling ’cause he’s been through the dark stuff.” On May 15 2025 they released the official music video for the song. Crowe directed the video himself. It has a mellow vibe with beautiful landscapes and shots of both artists. It is simple heartfelt and matches the song's mood perfectly. This collaboration is a nice reminder that sometimes all you need is to just breathe.
Russell Crowe's Personal Journey Towards A Healthier Lifestyle
How His Fiancée Britney Theriot Is Supporting His Weight Loss Goals
It is not just movies and music occupying Crowe's time. He is also focusing on his health. Recent reports suggest he is looking much slimmer and healthier. A source told Life & Style that his fiancée Britney Theriot has been a big support. She is giving him the motivation he needs to look and feel his best for their upcoming wedding. The insider mentioned that while Britney loves him no matter his size she was concerned about his health. His weight was getting to a point where it could endanger his health so she spoke up. This is a common concern many people face and it is good that he has support.
Crowe has been known to gain and lose weight for roles over the years. But this time he is taking it easy. He wants to keep a consistent weight loss plan as a new part of his life not just a quick fix. The source explained they completely changed their pantry. They threw out all the junk foods and snacks. He did not want a super strict diet. Instead he is eating really clean healthy foods. This means lots of lean protein fresh vegetables and fruits. This sounds like a sensible approach to long-term health.
The actor has also been cutting down on drinking. He has talked about giving up "dark drinks" that do not agree with him. He said "I’ve given up drinking quite a few things. Some things I don’t drink anymore as me and that product don’t see eye to eye at certain times. Tequila and I are still good friends and vodka and I still get on. It’s just the dark drinks that don’t seem to bring out the best of my personality." The source adds he is doing well reducing his alcohol intake before this new chapter with Britney. He has mostly stopped drinking except for special events.
He is also working out with a personal trainer and doing lots of cardio. The goal is to burn off fat. The insider said he has lost a good 30 pounds already. He is still hoping to drop another 20 pounds to get to a healthier weight. Russell met Britney on the set of Broken City in 2013. They were not romantically linked until November 2020. They made their first red carpet appearance in October 2022 for his film Poker Face. He asked her to marry him during a romantic trip to Italy in February 2023. This change is not just about looks. It is about his overall health and making sure he is around for many years to come. But of course he wants to look his best when he walks down the aisle and that means getting rid of his belly. It is great to see him making these positive changes.