Russell Crowe's Chocolate Doppelgänger

Actor Russell Crowe has been honored with slews of awards, from the Golden Globes to Academy Awards to the BAFTAs. 

But a new tribute is arguably his most delicious honor so far – and the star seems to know it. 

“Some people get statues made of bronze. Some in marble. In Malta, they have made me out of… chocolate!!!” Crowe posted to X (formerly Twitter) this week, sharing a photo of a life-sized, chocolate version of Maximus, the character Crowe played in 2000's Gladiator.

The confection was created by artist and catering company owner Tiziano Cassar, who writes on Facebook that the statue was made for Saturday's Hamrun Chocolate Festival which is said to attract about 25,000 visitors each year. Now in its 13th year, the festival – which also includes tastings and presentations on chocolate history – features an exhibition of large-scale chocolate artworks. Previous subjects have included Elvis, a Minion and Johnnie Walker, the Scottish namesake of the whisky brand. 

According to Cassar (left), a mutual friend reached out to Crowe to alert him to his chocolate doppelgänger, and the rest is delectable history. 

“I feel fortunate to be mentioned by the international and Oscar winner actor on his social media platform”, Cassar says. 

“When the competition is over, I will be available to eat…” Crowe wrote, but one place he won't be available is Gladiator 2, or whatever they're calling the hotly-anticipated sequel to Crowe's now-chocolate-commemorated star turn. That movie, which will star Paul Mescal, “has nothing to do with me”, Crowe told Variety in July. “In that world, I am dead. Six feet under”.