Gladiator Sequel: Director Ridley Scott Confirms That Screenplay Is Finished

Ridley Scott’s epic historical drama starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix – Gladiator – was released in 2000 and till this day it remained one of the best movies ever. The movie won 5 Oscars, including Best Picture, and according to IMDb score, it’s the 44th best movie of all time.

Now, more than 2 decades later, it seems that Scott is ready to make a sequel, which has been in development for years now. In a recent interview for Deadline, Scott was asked if the script was being written, but he provided the even bigger answer – it’s already done.

“Oh, it’s been written. It’s already been written. We have a good footprint, a good, logical place to go.You can’t just do another Gladiator type movie. You’ve got to follow…there’s enough components from the first one to pick up the ball and continue it.”

Of course, considering that Gladiator is one of the classics of its genre, many fans are wondering if the sequel is even needed, especially after all these years. Scott explained his decision:

“First of all, I love doing period films. I love the research. I love to create sort of smells of the period. I think what we did with the first Gladiator…I don’t like being critical of other things that have happened before, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of Hollywood Roman epics, honestly. They felt artificial and so, when I was asked to consider a script, the script was not very good. But the person who gave it to me said, I want to show you one thing.”

Released in 2000, Gladiator grossed $460.5 million (adjusted for inflation, that would be around $738 million today) against a $103 million budget. Directed by Ridley Scott, the movie is starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, Richard Harris, and Tommy Flanagan

The sequel of Gladiator still has no release date.

Set in Roman times, the story of a once-powerful general forced to become a common gladiator. The emperor’s son is enraged when he is passed over as heir in favour of his father’s favourite general. He kills his father and arranges the murder of the general’s family, and the general is sold into slavery to be trained as a gladiator – but his subsequent popularity in the arena threatens the throne.

Gladiator, official synopsis