Ridley Scott Has Already Started Writing GLADIATOR 3
A couple of weeks ago Ridley Scott revealed that he is looking to continue the Gladiator franchise with a third film and that he’s already “lit the fuse” on the next chapter of his historical epic.
Scott has now offered an update on that while taking to Total Film, saying that he’s already started writing: "I’ve already got eight pages. I’ve got the beginning of a very good footprint."
He added: "If there’s a Gladiator 3, I don’t think you’d ever go back into the arena. But I had to go back into the arena…"
Scott also talked about the legacy of Gladiator, sharing: "The first movie really definitely touched the imagination in a way I didn’t quite expect.
“Because when they heard that Ridley is doing a Roman epic – a sword-and-spear-and-sandal movie – there was a lot of sniggering. Because up to that date, they’d always been very, you know, old-style Hollywood. And I knew what to do."
Scott continued: "And from that, I, in a funny kind of way, modernized Roman-epic kind of films. Then, you know, it spawns a lot of other guys in leather skirts and stuff."
Scott has also already talked to Gladiator II star Paul Mescal as the actor confirmed that the director has already spoken to him about the idea.
Mescal previously said: "Yes, Ridley spoke to me about it, but only yesterday! So I'm waiting to see what's going to happen, but I'm interested, of course. But we can't rush anything. The story has to hold together."
Now obviously a third Gladiator movie will only happen if the upcoming sequel is a box office success. There seems to be a lot of excitement for Gladiator II, so I’m pretty confident that the movie will rake in the cash.
The story for Gladiator II takes place years after Maximus gave his life, upending the leadership of the decadent and corrupt society. The sequel centers on Lucius, the son of Lucilla, and nephew of Commodus, the son of Roman leader Marcus Aurelius who murdered his father and seized the throne.
Commodus met his downfall in the gladiator ring against Maximus, who despite being mortally wounded, took down the emperor before passing on to reunite with his family. Maximus had saved Lucius and his mother, leaving a lasting impact on the young boy.
It’s explained that “decades have passed and Lucius has come of age far away from his mother. While he was still a child, Lucilla sent him to the northern coast of Africa, to a region called Numidia that was (at that point) just outside the reach of the Roman Empire.
“Gladiator II begins with Mescal’s Lucius living a peaceful life with his wife and child until conquerors from his homeland begin to encroach. Scott says: “The film begins with the raiding party of the Roman fleet, which comes in from the sea and decimates Numidia. It’s pretty gnarly.”
Lucius eventually finds himself a prisoner that is taken to Rome, and there he has to fight in the Colosseum. Scott explains how this plays out: “The wrinkle is, when he gets to Rome as a prisoner and has a first round in the arena, he sees his mother—to his shock.”
The film also stars Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, Denzel Washington as Macrinus, Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla, Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta, and Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius.
The synopsis reads: “Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist.
“With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.”
The movie hits theaters on November 22nd.