Gladiator director Ridley Scott has given insight into why Irish actor Barry Keoghan departed the Gladiator II movie.

Speaking with the New York Times, the 86-year-old filmmaker revealed that the 32-year-old actor had a scheduling conflict that forced him to drop out of the project in early 2023.

‘Barry got locked into Saltburn,’ Scott divulged to the publication, referring to the dark comedy that was released late last year.

The sequel to 2000’s Gladiator, which starred Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, will hit theaters on November 22.

Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal, and Joseph Quinn star in the highly anticipated feature.

Gladiator director Ridley Scott has given insight into why Irish actor Barry Keoghan departed the Gladiator II movie; Barry pictured in September

The sequel to 2000’s Gladiator, which starred Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, will hit theaters on November 22

Read More Barry Keoghan rejects claims his manhood was ‘made bigger’ with a prosthetic for THAT naked Saltburn scene as he says ‘it was all me’

Complimenting Keoghan on Saltburn, Ridley shared, ‘I think that’s maybe the best film I’ve seen this year.’

He continued, ‘Anyway, Barry is one of the good ones, the same level as Joaquin Phoenix and and Paul.’

The renowned director gushed that ‘Barry is so complex and actually has it under control.’ 

‘I know he’s a bit of a challenge, but he’s worth it. Like deciding on Joaquin, it’s worth it,’ he admitted.

Days ago, Barry laughed off rumors he had his manhood made ‘bigger’ for his ɴuᴅᴇ, final Saltburn scene.

The actor, who is dating pop star Sabrina Carpenter, insisted no prosthetics were used to enhance his crotch for the silver screen.

While appearing as a guest on the Louis Theroux Podcast, he was asked about baring all in the memorable scene, in which he danced to Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s song Murder on the Dancefloor.

The star answered: ‘Wait, enhanced? Who said that? Nah… Wow.’

‘Barry got locked into Saltburn,’ Scott divulged, referring to Barry’s blockbuster dark comedy that was released late last year; The director pictured in August

Barry’s film Saltburn follows Oxford scholarship recipient Oliver Quick (Keoghan), who struggles to fit in with the super-wealthy students at the prestigious university 

Days ago, Barry laughed off rumors he had his manhood made ‘bigger’ for his ɴuᴅᴇ, final Saltburn scene

He reiterated: ‘It was all me. It was a thing that I didn’t really bat an eyelid to. You know, I would [have] bat an eyelid if it didn’t fit the story.’ 

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly in November 2023, Barry described the scene as embracing ‘full confidence.’

‘After take one, I was ready to go. I was like, “Let’s go again. Let’s go again,”‘ he recalled. 

Saltburn follows Oxford scholarship recipient Oliver Quick (Keoghan), who struggles to fit in with the super-wealthy students at the prestigious university.

His well-off friend Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi) takes him under his wing and invites him to spend the summer with his kooky family, with the film ending in an unexpected twist.