As the release ofGladiator 2nearsRidley Scottisn’t showing any signs of slowing down. TheBladerunner 2019director took 24 years to follow up on theRussel Crowe-led filmwhich gave fans a taste of the arena. However, the good news is fans might not have to wait another two decades when it comes to a follow-up onPaulMescal’s upcoming film. In a new interview withTotal Films, Scott talks about his plans forGladiator 3.
While the originalGladiatortold us the story of Maximus, the upcoming sequel will be set two decades later and followLucius, son of Lucilla and Maximus. How this story unfolds remains to be seen, but Scott has surely got more ideas. “I’ve already got eight pages,” he reveals, “I’ve got the beginning of a very good footprint." He further hinted about the direction of it speaking about returning to the Colosseum in Rome forGladiator 2. “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…” Though a small tease it seems like Scott knows what he’s doing, and that Lucius story won’t be completely done in the sequel.
What Do We Know About ‘Gladiator 3’?
While there is no official confirmation for a third part in the franchise fans would have to wait forGladiator 2’s box office results for the studio and filmmakers to seriously consider the need for another film in the franchise. The recentbox office failure ofJoker 2serves as a cautionary tale and many in the industry will be reconsidering their sequel plans.
Nonetheless,Scott previously teased what the possible third part could be about, “With that, I’m already playing with the idea of Gladiator 3. No, seriously! I lit the wick… The end of Gladiator II evokes that of the Godfather, with Michael Corleone who finds himself with a job he did not want, and who wonders, ‘and now, Father, what am I doing?’ The next [film] will therefore be about a man who does not want to be where he is.” Certainly, fans would love to see Mescal’s Lucius as a father figure who is stretched between his heart and his duties
Gladiator IIwill be released in cinemas on July 01, 2025. You can know more about the upcoming feature with our guidehereand stay tuned to Collider for further updates.
Gladiator II
Lucius Verus, the son of Maximus’s beloved Lucilla, returns to Rome after years in the wilderness. Captured by Roman forces led by General Marcus Acacius, he is thrust into the gladiatorial arena. As he battles for survival, he encounters Macrinus, a former slave-turned-merchant, and faces the corrupt twin emperors Caracalla and Geta.
