Ridley Scott Is Already Writing Gladiator 3

Next month, director Ridley Scott is revisiting the world of one of his biggest hits, Gladiator. For Gladiator 2, Paul Mescal is taking over the role of Lucius Verus, one of the few remaining characters from the first movie. And rather than waiting another 24 years before starting the next chapter, Scott has already begun writing Gladiator 3.

“I’ve already got eight pages. I’ve got the beginning of a very good footprint,” said Scott via Total Film. “If there’s a Gladiator 3, I don’t think you’d ever go back into the arena. But I had to go back into the arena.”

In a separate interview with Premiere, Scott dropped some hints about how Gladiator 2 will end in order to set the stage for what may happen in the third film.

“I’ve lit the fuse,” said Scott. “The ending of Gladiator 2 is reminiscent of The Godfather, with Michael Corleone finding himself with a job he didn’t want, and wondering, ‘Now, Father, what do I do?’ So the next [film] will be about a man who doesn’t want to be where he is.”

That implies that Lucius may not only survive his battles in the arena, he may go on to claim the Roman empire. But we won’t know his fate until Gladiator 2 hits theaters on November 22.