Ridley Scott, the acclaimed director behind Gladiator, has revealed plans for a third installment even before Gladiator II premieres in US cinemas. The highly anticipated sequel, starring Paul Mescal as Lucius, the nephew of Maximus (Russell Crowe’s character from the 2000 original), has already garnered $87 million at the global box office since its international debut.
Scott confirmed during the film’s glitzy Los Angeles premiere that the sequel’s storyline was intentionally crafted to leave room for another chapter. “Given the performance… there’s certainly going to be a Gladiator III,” said Scott, who at 86 remains one of the industry’s most prolific filmmakers.
The sequel, featuring Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal in key roles, follows Lucius as he battles Roman invaders, endures captivity, and fights for revenge in the Colosseum. Washington’s flamboyant portrayal of the manipulative Macrinus has already sparked Oscar buzz.
Paul Mescal teased that Scott is developing a more politically charged plot for the third film, potentially exploring court intrigue akin to Michael Corleone’s arc in The Godfather.
Scott hinted at the relevance of the franchise’s themes, pointing out how history often repeats itself in politics and power struggles.
