“Gladiator II” hasn’t even been released yet, and apparently Ridley Scott already has plans to turn the franchise into a trilogy. An idea suddenly sparked in his head and things seem to be in motion …
In an exclusive via Première, Ridley Scott confirms he is working on “Gladiator III”. The filmmaker links the ending of “Gladiator II” to the ending of “The Godfather”, with Paul Mescal as a Michael Corleone type of figure who gained power without having wanted it.
No, seriously! I lit the fuse... The ending of “Gladiator II” is reminiscent of “The Godfather”, with Michael Corleone ending up with a job he didn't want, and wondering, 'What now, Father, what do I do? "So the next [movie] will be about a man who doesn't want to be where he is."
According to Scott, who turns 87 in November, the sequel would deal with Mescal’s character and the power struggles of the political world in Rome. When contacted for comment, Mescal, who plays Lucius, reacted to the director's words:
Yes, Ridley told me about it, but only yesterday! So I'm waiting to see what will happen, but I'm interested, of course.
Scott will have to wait and see how “Gladiator II” does at the box-office before fully committing to the third chapter. He also has other projects percolating in the works; His next film is definitely the ‘Bee Gees’ biopic, set to shoot early next year.
“Gladiator II” is set to arrive in theaters on Nov. 22, 2024 with Mescal as the lead and Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn and Connie Nielsen in supporting roles.
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