Filmmaker Ridley Scott said there is “already an idea” for a third instalment to the Gladiator film franchise, inspired by the sequel to Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather. Gladiator II is set years after Ridley’s historical epic, released in 2000, starring Russell Crowe as Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius. The much-anticipated upcoming sequel features Irish star Paul Mescal as Lucius, the son of late Maximus.
Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal fight it out in Gladiatior II (Paramount Pictures/PA) Ridley confirmed he had edited more than an hour from the first cut of the sequel, before suggesting a third Gladiator film could be in the works instead of an extended version of the film, which he did with the 2023 film Napoleon. “There’s already an idea,” the 86-year-old director told The Hollywood Reporter. “I’ve always had this idea based on The Godfather Part II,” referencing the 1974 film following the Corleone crime family.
“Gladiator II definitely signals it could be quite a large success. It’s almost got everything you need for that,” Sir Ridley said. Irish star Paul Mescal stars in Gladiator II (Matt Crossick/PA) The Blade Runner director also confirmed he was not planning on retiring any time soon.
“Since (the original) Gladiator, I think I’ve done 16 movies — which is kind of a lot in 20 years,” he said. “I always envied being an actor and you can do two or three movies a year. They don’t have to do any prep except learn their lin.