Ridley Scott’s recent comments about where a possibleGladiator 3could go may have spoiled the ending of the highly anticipatedGladiator 2two months before its release.A sequel toGladiatorhas been in developmentsince the blockbuster success of the original film back in 2000, but it’s taken over two decades for a follow-up movie to come together. The sequel went through a lot of iterations — includingone wildGladiator 2script involving a resurrected Maximus— before a project came together that Scott was happy with.
And not only is Scott happy with howGladiator 2turned out;he’s already got ideas forGladiator 3.Gladiator 2isn’t set to hit theaters until November 22 (November 15 in the UK), butScott is already touting the next movie in the series. While it’s certainly exciting that Scott is ready to dive back into theGladiatorfranchise and complete the trilogy right after the second film, his comments about the potential threequel seem to contain spoilers forGladiator 2.
Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 3 Comments May Reveal Lucius Becomes Emperor In Gladiator 2
Gladiator 2 Could Have A Very Different Ending Than Its Predecessor
The trailer forGladiator 2seems to suggest a very similar storyline to the first movie.Paul Mescal stars as Lucius Verus, who, like Russell Crowe’s Maximus from the first one, is taken prisoner by the Roman army and forced to fight as a gladiator. The vengeful gladiator works his way up the ranks in pursuit of a personal vendetta against the military leader he holds responsible. The trailer has even spoiled that this will build to a climactic showdown in the arena. So far, it’s more or less the same story as the original film.
But based on Scott’s comments about a possibleGladiator 3, it seems as thoughGladiator 2will have a very different ending than the original movie.The director said that the ending ofGladiator 2is similar to the ending ofThe Godfather, in which Michael Corleone finds himself with “a job he didn’t want,” wondering what to do with himself in this new position of power. Scott teased thatGladiator 3would then follow “a man who doesn’t want to be where he is.”
Gladiator 2is scripted byNapoleonwriter David Scarpa.
Atthe end of the originalGladiatormovie, Maximus gets his revenge, but he dies in the process and is reunited with his family in the afterlife. Scott’s comments suggest that the sequel will take a different approach to its conclusion.The parallels with Michael’s arc inThe Godfatherhint that Lucius will not only survive the story,but will even become the new Emperor by the end of it.
Why Lucius Becoming Emperor Makes Sense For Gladiator 2
Forcing Lucius To Accept His Destiny Seems Like A Suitably Tragic Ending
Maximus’ ending was perfect for the firstGladiatormovie. Reuniting Maximus with his late family in the afterlife was a more satisfying conclusion to his arc than getting revenge. After exacting his vengeance, Maximus finally found peace. This was powerful, but a similar ending inGladiator 2won’t have the same impact, especially after the first film. The ending teased by Scott is much more fitting for Lucius' story — at least based on what’s been revealed aboutGladiator 2so far — becauseit presents the film’s lead with an ironic twist of fate.
Having Lucius die triumphantly in combat while avenging the people he lost would’ve been a serviceable ending, but it would’ve felt like a rehash of Maximus’ story.
Having Lucius die triumphantly in combat while avenging the people he lost would’ve been a serviceable ending, butit would’ve felt like a rehash of Maximus’ story. Forcing Lucius to accept his destiny and reluctantly take on this responsibility is much more poetic. Lucius has to take on the very thing he ran away from.
Gladiator 3 Will Be A Very Different Movie If Lucius Becomes Emperor
Gladiator 3 Won’t Just Be A Soft Remake Like Gladiator 2
Unless there are some twists and turns thattheGladiator 2trailersare hiding, the sequel seems to be following very similar narrative beats to the first film. Lucius is taking on a similar role to Maximus. He’s the hero who’s taken from his family and forced into a life as a gladiator. He fights his way to celebrity status in the arena and bides his time as he seeks vengeance against the Emperor (or Emperors). Even with the different ending teased by Scott,Gladiator 2is shaping up to be a soft remake of the original.
But ifGladiator 2really does make Lucius the Emperor in its final act, then it’ll set the stage forGladiator 3to tell a completely different kind of story. It might follow similar plot beats, with an underdog hero rising through the gladiatorial ranks to take on the Emperor. However,that story will be told from the Emperor’s perspective.Gladiator 2could set the stage for a radical change in the threequel, and that would add even more excitement to Scott’s series of films.
Gladiator II
Cast
Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
