Gladiator 2 is now before cameras, with production taking place in Morocco, Malta and the United Kingdom. It’s been 23 long years since Russell Crowe asked us “are you not entertained?!,” with the original movie now cemented as a cinematic classic for the ages.
The sequel picks up roughly two decades after Crowe’s Maximus bit the dust, with Paul Mescal’s Lucius – the nephew of Joaquin Phoenix’s Emperor Commodus – as the lead character.
Only two original cast members are making a comeback – Connie Nielsen as Lucius’ mother Lucilla and Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus – but it sounds like Crowe wishes he could have joined them. Speaking at a press conference in Czechia, he admitted to feeling jealous after visiting the Colosseum set:
“I admit to a certain tinge of jealousy, because it reminds me not only of my youth, but of what that meant for me in my life. It was a timewarp for a couple of seconds. I don’t know anything about the cast or plot – well I wouldn’t, because I’m dead – [but] whoever’s involved in that movie, if Ridley has decided to do a second part to that story, he will have really strong reasons. It’s very typical of Ridley to rethink everything that he’s done and know how to make it better. I couldn’t think of that movie being anything less than absolutely spectacular when it does come out.”
Any Ridley Scott movie is worth watching, though we’re still sad we’re not going to get the bonkers Nick Cave Gladiator sequel he conceived in the 2000s. Titled “Christ Killer”, this would have seen Maximus brought back to life from purgatory by the Roman gods and sent on a mission to stop Christianity by murdering Jesus.
The story would have ended with Maximus cursed with immortality, with the closing moments showing him fighting in the Crusades, World War II, and Vietnam. The final shot? Maximus working behind a desk at the Pentagon. Roll credits.
Sadly, it seems studio execs weren’t keen on making a movie called “Christ Killer” about assassinating Jesus, and the script was junked. Oh well, we’re sure the actual Gladiator 2 will be fun, but what could have been…
Gladiator 2 will hit theaters on Nov 22, 2024