How Gladiator 2 Almost Brought Back Russell Crowe’s Maximus – SlashFilm

We waited a protracted, very long time for director Ridley Scott to make a sequel to his beloved 2000 Greatest Image-successful basic, “Gladiator.” That sequel arrived in late 2024 within the type of “Gladiator II.” Although not practically as roundly praised as its predecessor, the sequel did end as one of many highest-grossing motion pictures of the yr, and it did so with out bringing again its earlier star, Oscar-winner Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius. That is as a result of Maximus died within the first one … however that did not stop the writers from making an attempt to deliver him again anyway.

In a latest interview with The Direct, screenwriter Peter Craig revealed that there was, at one level, a scene that may have introduced again Crowe as Maximus. This may have taken place in direction of the top of the movie and it could have occurred by way of a flashback with Paul Mescal’s Lucius, who (spoiler alert) is definitely Maximus’ son. Here is what Craig needed to say about it:

“There was an concept that the Romans had that you may speak to your ancestors, and so they have these underground catacombs the place individuals’s urns and ashes and bones have been all buried beneath town. There had been a scene the place as soon as Lucius finds out that it is his father, he goes down there and he finds his grave. And there was simply going to be a extremely temporary flashback with Russell.”

For what it is price, solely two actors from the primary “Gladiator” returned within the sequel: Connie Nielsen (Lucilla) and Derek Jacobi (Senator Gracchus). So it isn’t as if Crowe was lacking out on some large reunion. Nonetheless, it is simple to see why Craig and Scott no less than thought-about this selection.

For higher or worse, Maximus solid a really massive shadow over the sequel, regardless that Crowe would not really seem within the movie. There have been totally different variations of the sequel floated over time, however Scott lastly felt prefer it was the fitting time to make “Gladiator II.” Doing so with out the those that made the unique such an enormous hit was a tall order.

A number of different writers, together with Scott, in the end crafted the story that we noticed unfold within the sequel. The director ended up being an enormous fan of the way it turned out, as he is already introduced plans for a possible “Gladiator 3” with Paul Mescal returning. Craig, for his half, feels they made the fitting name in leaving this flashback scene out of the film:

“I feel they in all probability made the fitting resolution not utilizing it. However I used to be on that with Ridley [Scott] for some time … I kind of gave them an enormous menu of stuff, and so they chosen some issues from it, and I feel they left numerous the fitting stuff off of it.”

Whether or not or not the sequel was a satisfying observe-up is basically a matter of particular person style. A cameo from Crowe in all probability would not have moved the needle an excessive amount of both means, however it might need felt a bit compelled. “Gladiator II” has been criticized for its lack of historic accuracy, however once more, Scott is not getting down to make an correct historic epic. Are you not entertained, he would possibly ask?

You’ll be able to seize “Gladiator II” on 4K, Blu-ray, or DVD from Amazon.