What We Know About Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator 2’ So Far

Are you ready to be entertained…again?

Yes, Gladiator 2 is a thing (as we have shared). Granted, it’s been mysterious for almost two decades, but the sequel to what has to be one of the best period epics ever made. What’s more fascinating is when it was released in May 2000, no one was positioning it for an Oscar.

Gladiator was a summer blockbuster directed by Ridley Scott, who knows a thing or two about making a mid-year classic. But, once people started looking past the barbarian horde, there was much more to this film than shredded Praetorian guards and a snot-nosed, maniacal son. There was a gripping story, excellent characters, and a score from Hans Zimmer that became legendary.

Then, it won Best Picture over fantastic films like Traffic and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Nominated for 11 Oscars and winning five, Gladiator became iconic.

It’s long been rumored that Scott wants to do it all over again since Maximus (Russell Crowe) met his demise. There has been news over the past several years, but things are gaining momentum, so it’s time to regroup. Get your Birkenstocks on, blast Lisa Gerrard with her hypnotic siren song, and let’s go back to Rome.

Here’s what we know about Gladiator 2.

The Plot Thickens

Some clamored for a sequel at the turn of the century, but Ridley Scott wasn’t that interested. About 15 years later, he was romancing the idea. As several synopses have shared, the sequel is said to revolve around Lucius Verus II (Spencer Treat Clark), the young child of Empress Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and nephew of the sinister Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), who took the throne by force and kina’ killed his dad, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris).

See that smile up there? It’s not because the kid is hanging with his dear Uncle Commie. He’s looking at Maximus, whom he admires greatly. In June 2019, producers shared the sequel would be a proper timeline (so, 25 years after the original) and Lucius will be living up to the honor code he learned from the slain general.

Meet Lucius Verus II

Here’s why Gladiator 2 may be trending. Ridley Scott is reportedly in negotiations with Normal People and Aftersun star Paul Mescal for the lead role of an older Lucius. The sequel marks a substantial step-up the Hollywood ladder for the 26-year-old Irish actor. This will be Mescal’s first time to lead a major studio production (Paramount).

Already connected to the Ridley Scott retake on the Gladiatorial fun is Thor. Russell Crowe and Chris Hemsworth have already been together in the polarizing Thor: Love and Thunder. Evidently, they’re teaming up again.

Why they didn’t go with Spencer Treat Clark again will be a mystery. He was most recently involved in Animal Kingdom as Adrian Dolan and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story as Steve. Ah, well. Mommy will be the same, it seems. Nielsen has been tight-lipped on the subject, so she knows something. While there have been rumors of Crowe coming back to star in flashbacks, nothing has been confirmed.

Paris Then Rome

Currently, Ridley Scott is surrounded with award season buzz in 2024. David Scarpa (The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Last Castle, All the Money in the World) has written a script about the vertically challenged French military leader Napoleon Bonaparte. First, that. Then, Gladiator 2, so says the man.

“I’m already having [the next] ‘Gladiator’ written now,” Scott said. “So when I’ve done Napoleon, ‘Gladiator’ will be ready to go.”

IndieWire, Sep. 2021

Napoleon’s rise to power is the story of legend, and with Ridley Scott’s panache for epic historical films, that film should be a masterpiece. Not for nothing, the role of Napoleon in the movie formerly called Kitbag will be Oscar-winning actor and pal of Ridley, Joaquin Phoenix. Maybe, Scott is putting the whole band back togetehere somehow. We’ll see.

Regardless, come 2024, this is going to be fun!