Work has now begun on the long-rumored sequel to the Oscar-winning Gladiator.
DreamWorks Pictures
Work has now reportedly begun on the long-rumored sequel to Gladiator, the Oscar-winning swords-and-sandals epic starring Russell Crowe. Released over 20 years ago, a follow-up to Gladiator has been both on and off the cards since the first outing was released, with a report from Puck News revealing returning director Ridley Scott and his team are looking for now their main cast to play key characters in Gladiator 2.
While nothing is revealed about who Scott and his team plan to helm the long-awaited sequel, the report does state that production on Gladiator 2 could begin as early as May 2023, which would give the crew several months to bring their base set. .
Released in 2000, the first Gladiator centers on Russell Crowe as Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, who is betrayed when Commodus, the ambitious son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, assassinates his father and seizes the throne. Enslaved, Maximus becomes a gladiator and rises through the ranks of the arena to avenge the murders of his family and his emperor. Gladiator was a monumental success upon release, earning over $400 million worldwide and nominated for 11 Oscars, winning Best Picture and Best Actor.
Rumors of a sequel have swirled since the release of the first Gladiator, with many wondering how exactly the story could continue given that main character Maximus is killed off at the end of the film. At one point, singer and songwriter Nick Cave had launched a more fantastical sequel, which would have seen Maximus in purgatory before being resurrected as an immortal warrior, fighting in the Crusades, World War II and the Vietnam War; with the ending revealing that in modern times, the character now works at the Pentagon.
It’s unclear what exactly Gladiator 2’s direction will be, but Scott has since assured fans that he and Top Gun: Maverick writer Peter Craig have found a “logical” way to continue the story. “We have a good footprint, a good logical place to go,” Scott previously said of the project. “You can’t just make another Gladiator-type movie. You have to follow…there are enough components from the first to pick up the ball and continue. »
Will Chris Hemsworth Direct Gladiator 2 As Maximus’ Son?
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Frankly, Gladiator 2 is unlikely to follow Maximus through time, with the story instead much more likely to follow a descendant of Crowe’s character. Perhaps with Crowe merely appearing in a “spirit guide” type cameo, if at all. Other rumors claimed that Thor: Love and Thunder star Chris Hemsworth would direct the Gladiator sequel as Maximus’ son Lucius Verus.
Played in the first Spencer Treat Clark film, the rumored storyline will follow Lucius decades after the events of Gladiator, picking up with an older Lucius as he searches for the truth about his biological father and discovering that he is in fact the secret son. of Maxim.
Although it’s just speculation at this point, an insider previously revealed that none other than Russell Crowe himself favored his Thor: Love and Thunder co-star Chris Hemsworth to direct Gladiator 2. as the son of Maximus. “Russell thinks he might be the only man to credibly play his son in a Gladiator sequel,” the source explained before claiming Crowe and Hemsworth “spent hours brainstorming story ideas.” .
Could Gladiator 2 Finally Happen? Would you like to see the sequel continue Maximus’ legacy?
Gladiator 2 Reportedly Seeking Lead Cast Now, Could Start Production In May | Pretty Reel