Although that TikTok trend has long run its course, Ridley Scott just can’t seem to get the Roman Empire off his mind.
Ahead of his long-awaited Gladiator II, which premieres Nov. 15 internationally and Nov. 22 in the US and Canada, the Oscar-nominated director recently teased that he’s looking to round out the trilogy with a future third installment.
“With that, I’m already toying with the idea of Gladiator 3. No, seriously! I’ve lit the fuse…” he told French magazine Premiere. “The ending of Gladiator II is reminiscent of The Godfather, with Michael Corleone finding himself with a job he didn’t want, and wondering, ‘Now, Father, what do I do?’ So the next [film] will be about a man who doesn’t want to be where he is.”
Paramount had no comment about the future of the franchise, which began with Scott’s Oscar-winning historical epic Gladiator (2000), starring Russell Crowe.
Gladiator II stars Paul Mescal as Lucius, who previously witnessed Maximus (portrayed in the original by Crowe) die at the hands of his uncle Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) in the first movie. Now an adult, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum and fight to return glory to the people of Rome.
Paul Mescal as Lucius in Gladiator II. (Paramount Pictures)
Paramount Pictures
The sequel also stars Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger and Connie Nielsen, who reprises her role as Lucius’ mother Lucilla from the original movie.
Quinn previously recalled 86-year-old Scott had a “thirst for life and also filmmaking” on the set of the highly-anticipated sequel.