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The Script Proposed For A Gladiator Sequel Is Absolutely Ridiculous

The Script Proposed For A Gladiator Sequel Is Absolutely Ridiculous

The writer has some interesting ideas for Maximus

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

It's been 17 years since the highly-acclaimed film Gladiator was released around the world. The movie, starring Russell Crowe, was nominated for 36 different award ceremonies including the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and the BAFTAS.

It was so influential that, according to the New York Times, it revived an interest in Roman and classical history in the US.

The Ridley Scott-directed movie told the story of Maximus Decimus Meridius, a leader of the Roman army before he is sold into slavery following the murder of his family. He becomes a gladiator at the famed Roman Colosseum where he becomes a fan favourite for his bloodied wins.

But his main goal is seeking revenge on Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix, after he killed his own father, Marcus Aurelius.

Credit: DreamWorks Pictures/Universal Pictures

Spoiler alert, Russell achieves his goal at the end of the movie but also dies.

That is where we left the incredible film 17 years ago, but it appears that some people in Hollywood want to create a sequel to the film, and the script is more than outrageous.

In 2001, there was talk of a prequel in development, but the following year the direction was switched to have the movie 15 years in the future. Crowe began studying Roman beliefs of the afterlife to see if it allowed him to reprise his role, but Scott thought it would be a stretch to call the second film Gladiator 2 if it wasn't focusing on the battles.

Cut to 2006, Scott and Crowe approached Nick Cave, an Australian screenplay writer, musician and composer, to write the Gladiator sequel.

Credit: DreamWorks Pictures/Universal Pictures

But it wasn't until 2009, that Cave's idea surfaced on the internet. Strap yourself in because you'll have to keep up with the direction that Cave wanted to take the film.

The movie would have opened with Maximus in the afterlife where he's offered the chance to be with his family again, but only if he protects and defends all Christians on earth. But wait, there's more.

Maximus finds out that his son is still alive (miraculously after being left a charred corpse in the first film) and is very religious. His son convinces him to betray the gods and declare war against them. Hold on, it keeps going.

He's then granted eternal life and you get a Wolverine style plot where Maximus fights in World War Two and Vietnam before winding up in the Pentagon.

For those who want the finer details, you can read the full script here:

Unfortunately, when Cave presented the idea to Crowe, he replied: "Don't like it, mate."

Brutal.

Scott told UGO: "Russell didn't want to let it go, obviously, because it worked very well. When I say, 'worked very well', I don't refer to success. I mean, as a piece it works very well. Storytelling, [it] works brilliantly. I think [Cave] enjoyed doing it, and I think it was one of those things that he thought, 'Well, maybe there's a sequel where we can adjust the fantasy and bring [Maximus] back from the dead.'"

But if you thought that that would be the end of plans to revive the Gladiator movie; Scott told the SXSW festival this year that he's still in talks with studio executives about the project.

Featured Image Credit: DreamWorks Pictures/Universal Pictures