Even ahead of Gladiator II’s release, Gladiator III is all but confirmed, as Paul Mescal reveals Ridley Scott is already writing the script.
Gladiator II comes to theaters on November 22, but star Paul Mescal and Director Sir Ridley Scott are already looking ahead to Gladiator III. Both of them feel that this movie is coming, and both of them reference The Godfather Part Two as the potential inspiration and path that it will explore.
Ridley Scott Says It Would Be “Insane” Not To Consider Gladiator III
Will there be a Gladiator III?
Sir Ridley Scott: It also becomes financial. You’d be insane not to consider the third version. This film was planned to leave it wide open to a sequel with the lines of, “Well, Father, what should I do?” ‘Cause he doesn’t really want the job.
It’s a bit like going in on The Godfather, Al Pacino not wanting the role that he has to concede to. So, in a funny kind of way, I kind of stole that a little bit off The Godfather. Thank you, Francis.
And Paul Mescal would be down for that as well.
Paul Mescal Claims Ridley Scott Is Already Writing Gladiator III Script
Ridley Scott said Gladiator III is in the works. Where would you like to see things go for your character, Lucius?
Paul Mescal: Where do I want to go? I think Ridley’s made a point of like, I don’t know necessarily if you can go back to the arena as we know it. The last time I spoke to him, he said he had nine pages. Yesterday, he said he had 14. So I think he’s moving in a direction that I’m excited with.
I haven’t spoken to him about what that looks like, but I would be excited for it to go into a more political sphere in the world of Michael Corleone in The Godfather II. Something like somebody stepping into something that they don’t necessarily feel like it belongs to them.
Because I think when you see Lucius at the end of the first film, he’s looking for guidance. As much as he’s a reluctant leader throughout the film, I think that’s even an overstatement, I think he has no desire to lead until the point that it’s thrust upon him. I think that you could draw parallels of that with something like The Godfather Part Two.
Watch our review of Gladiator II.
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About Gladiator II: Years after witnessing the death of Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius must enter the Colosseum after the powerful emperors of Rome conquer his home. With rage in his heart and the future of the empire at stake, he looks to the past to find the strength and honor needed to return the glory of Rome to its people.
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