The producers behind the sequel to Ridley Scott's Gladiator say the second film will pick up the story 25 years after where the original left us - roughly 180 AD.
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Speaking to HeyUGuys during the press tour for Men in Black: International, producers Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald confirmed the Gladiator sequel is still happening.
MacDonald said: "We're working with Ridley, and that's one we wouldn't touch unless we felt in a way to do it was legitimate.
"We're working with an amazing writer as well, Peter Craig."
Parkes added: "It picks up the story 30 years later." He then corrected himself, saying: "25 years later."
There have been rumours for some time now claiming the plot of the new movie will centre on Lucius, son of Lucilla (played by Connie Nielson in the original) and nephew of Commodus (Joacquin Pheonix) - which could make sense if the second instalment leaps forward two decades and presents us with a new generation of characters.
The first film was a huge success critically and commercially, grabbing a clutch of awards and pulling in $460m worldwide, meaning many fans have been begging for a sequel ever since its release in 2000.
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Back in 2017, shortly after the release of Alien: Covenant, Scott fuelled the fire by revealing that not only was he keen on the idea of a sequel, but that he also had plans of bringing Crowe back, despite the fact he was killed off in the first film.
And no, that isn't a spoiler, because the damn thing is 19 years old.
"I know how to bring him back," he told Entertainment Weekly.
"I was having this talk with the studio - 'But he's dead'. But there is a way of bringing him back. Whether it will happen, I don't know.
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"Gladiator was 2000, so Russell's changed a little bit. He's doing something right now but I'm trying to get him back down here."
Crowe could be up for it, too, as he's previously spoken out about his fond memories of filming Gladiator.
Speaking to Hot Corn, the actor said: "On the set of Gladiator I built up a relationship with him that would last forever. It felt like we were in the trenches together, gradually putting the movie together as we filmed it.
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"Ridley did a job that was both epic and magical.
"And I can clearly remember when he told me that the production company was wrong to think of the film as an action movie to sell to teenagers. He was right: after just two weeks it was clear to everyone that the female audience was the biggest.
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"Basically, the film is an emotional journey and Maximus Decimus Meridius gave me one of the most gratifying experiences of my career. I'm not saying he is my absolute favourite, but I really loved him."
Looks like things are all coming together rather nicely...
Featured Image Credit: Dreamworks PicturesTopics: Entertainment, TV and Film