In the summer of 2000, Ridley Scott unleashed Gladiatora swords-and-sandals epic that redefined the genre and solidified its place as one of the The best movies of the 2000sThis historical drama wasn't just a hit, it was a smash hit, grossing a whopping $451.7 million at the global box office and winning several Oscars, including Best Picture. Now, 24 years later, the Soon Gladiator 2 It's finally coming to theaters and promises to be a worthy successor. However, before this sequel took shape, there were several wild ideas for a follow-up, and none “stranger” than Ridley Scott's supernatural proposal.
In a recent interview with Empire (via Slash movie), Scott shared details about his bold, supernatural vision for Gladiator 2which I sincerely wish had been given the chance to see the light of day. This concept would have seen the stoic Maximus return from the dead in a story that would shift dramatically from historical drama to spiritual epic. Foreign The creator says:
I had a brilliant idea, a very comical idea. I'm a comic book kind of guy. I thought, if in the midst of bloodshed and war we find out that a dying warrior becomes the portal for Maximus to return from the dead, how about that? […] I don't mean to say he'll come back through his mouth, but I'd figure out a way to bring him back from the dead. […] But that did not sit well with the nobles, who considered it ridiculous.
At the heart of the original story was the tale of Maximus Decimus Meridius, a betrayed Roman general, played to perfection by Russell Crowe, who sets out on a mission of revenge. In Scott’s idea for a sequel (dating back to around 2006), the film would have begun with Maximus and thousands of others standing on the banks of the River Styx, waiting for Charon to take them to the afterlife.
This spiritual epic would have explored themes of resurrection and the afterlife, drawing heavily on mythological elements rather than sticking to the historical and realistic tone of the original film.
However, the studio was not on board with such a radical change. The shift from a historical narrative to a fantastical one did not sit well with producers and investors, who felt it was a departure from what made the film original. Gladiator A success, a Movie you can watch over and over againand frankly, it's still one of the Scott and The best Russell Crowe moviesDespite Scott's enthusiasm for his comic-inspired idea, the proposal was ultimately rejected.
While that plan didn't pan out, more than two decades after the original hit our screens, a sequel is finally set to debut on the 2024 film calendar, and honestly, it's about time! Now, we may not get to see Ridley's wild supernatural twist or Maximus fighting in the afterlife and traveling through the centuries, but don't worry, the new movie still looks like it will be a “magnificent spectacle” in the most authentic sense Gladiator fashion.
Set 20 years after the first film, this sequel focuses on Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal), the young man from the original, who now enters the arena to fight his own intense battles.
With a stellar cast that includes returning Derek Jacobi and Connie Nielsen, plus the incredible Denzel Washington as the ambitious would-be emperor Macrinus, it's shaping up to be an epic, cross-generational saga. It's less about rehashing the past and more about building on the legacy in a new and exciting way.
As we prepare for Gladiator II The film is set to premiere on November 22, so there's still plenty of time to rewatch the original film. If you want to refresh your memory or experience the classic once again, you can watch it on streaming. Gladiator Now with a Amazon Prime Subscription.