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We waited a protracted, very long time for director Ridley Scott to make a sequel to his beloved 2000 Finest Image-winning traditional, “Gladiator.” That sequel arrived in late 2024 within the type of “Gladiator II.” Although not practically as roundly praised as its predecessor, the sequel did end as one of many highest-grossing motion pictures of the yr, and it did so without bringing back its previous star, Oscar-winner Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius. That is as a result of Maximus died within the first one … however that did not stop the writers from making an attempt to convey him again anyway.
In a latest interview with The Direct, screenwriter Peter Craig revealed that there was, at one level, a scene that might have introduced again Crowe as Maximus. This may have taken place in direction of the tip of the movie and it might have occurred through a flashback with Paul Mescal’s Lucius, who (spoiler alert) is definitely Maximus’ son. Here is what Craig needed to say about it:
“There was an concept that the Romans had that you could possibly discuss to your ancestors, they usually have these underground catacombs the place individuals’s urns and ashes and bones have been all buried beneath town. There had been a scene the place as soon as Lucius finds out that it is his father, he goes down there and he finds his grave. And there was simply going to be a extremely transient flashback with Russell.”
For what it is value, only two actors from the first “Gladiator” returned in the sequel: Connie Nielsen (Lucilla) and Derek Jacobi (Senator Gracchus). So it is not as if Crowe was lacking out on some large reunion. Nonetheless, it is simple to see why Craig and Scott a minimum of thought-about this selection.
Gladiator II was most likely higher off with out Russell Crowe
For higher or worse, Maximus solid a really giant shadow over the sequel, though Crowe does not truly seem within the movie. There have been totally different variations of the sequel floated through the years, however Scott finally felt like it was the right time to make “Gladiator II.” Doing so with out the those who made the unique such an enormous hit was a tall order.
A number of different writers, together with Scott, in the end crafted the story that we noticed unfold within the sequel. The director ended up being an enormous fan of the way it turned out, as he’s already announced plans for a potential “Gladiator 3” with Paul Mescal returning. Craig, for his half, feels they made the correct name in leaving this flashback scene out of the film:
“I believe they most likely made the correct determination not utilizing it. However I used to be on that with Ridley [Scott] for some time … I form of gave them an enormous menu of stuff, they usually chosen some issues from it, and I believe they left quite a lot of the correct stuff off of it.”
Whether or not or not the sequel was a satisfying follow-up is basically a matter of particular person style. A cameo from Crowe most likely would not have moved the needle an excessive amount of both means, nevertheless it might need felt a bit pressured. “Gladiator II” has been criticized for its lack of historical accuracy, however once more, Scott is not getting down to make an correct historic epic. Are you not entertained, he may ask?
You can grab “Gladiator II” on 4K, Blu-ray, or DVD from Amazon.
