The Shocking Revelation: Unveiling the Untold 23-Year Saga Behind Gladiator 2's Delay, Straight from Director Ridley Scott

Summary

Ridley Scott explains the 23-year gap between Gladiator and its sequel, revealing that the original sequel scripts were not up to par.

In Gladiator 2, the spotlight shifts to Lucius, the adult son of Lucilla, who takes center stage years after the incidents depicted in the initial film. Both familiar faces from the original cast and fresh talents such as Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal will come aboard for this sequel, which is slated for release in November 2024.

Director Ridley Scott recently discussed the lengthy delay in moving forward with Gladiator 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the blockbuster 2000 film. Despite its tremendous success at the box office and critical acclaim, it took over two decades for progress to be made on the follow-up. In an interview with Total Film magazine, Scott attributed the delay to the lack of a strong script. However, he noted that everything changed when the concept of centering the story around Lucius, the son of Lucilla (played by Connie Nielsen), emerged. Here's what Scott had to say on the matter:

Why now? The previous attempt lacked a script. We made an effort four years ago, but the talented writer I selected struggled with it and became disappointed when he couldn't produce satisfactory results. He's actually a friend of mine, and when I asked if he was making progress, he admitted he wasn't.

This endeavor lasted for 10 months before it ultimately stalled. However, we regrouped and reconsidered, eventually arriving at a more evident concept. And why not? There is still a character who survived, the son born from the union of Lucilla and Maximus.

Everything We Know About Gladiator 2

While specific details about the plot of Gladiator 2 remain limited, director Scott has confirmed that the film will primarily focus on the journey of Lucius as a grown adult, taking place several years after the events of the original movie. In the initial Gladiator film, Maximus sacrifices his life in a battle against Commodus to safeguard Lucilla and Lucius. Spencer Treat Clark played the character of Lucius in the original film, but Paul Mescal will take on the role in Gladiator 2.

Several actors from the original Gladiator will return to reprise their respective characters in the sequel, such as Lucilla portrayed by Nielsen and Gracchus played by Derek Jacobi. Alongside these familiar faces, Gladiator 2 will also introduce a mix of established veterans and up-and-coming stars, including Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Peter Mensah, Matt Lucas, and May Calamawy from Moon Knight. Washington's presence in the film will serve as a reunion between him and Scott, having previously collaborated on the 2007 movie American Gangster.

Gladiator 2 represents a renewed partnership between Scott and screenwriter David Scarpa, known for his work on the upcoming film Napoleon. Additionally, acclaimed cinematographer John Mathieson and award-winning costume designer Janty Yates, who previously collaborated with Scott on the first Gladiator, are also a part of this project. Although production of the film has been halted indefinitely due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, Gladiator 2 is still expected to be released in November 2024, putting an end to the anticipation that has lasted for two decades.