Sir Ridley Scott has teased a possible ‘Gladiator’ sequel.
The 79-year-old director helmed the critically acclaimed 2000 historical drama movie – which starred Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius – and has revealed he’s figured out a way of creating a sequel, despite the fact that Maximus dies at the end of the original movie.
He said: "I know how to bring him back. I was having this talk with the studio — ‘but he’s dead.’ But there is a way of bringing him back."
Ridley isn’t convinced fixing the plot holes will work, however, as he admits 52-year-old Russel has "changed a little bit" in the 17 years since the first movie.
He added to Entertainment Weekly magazine: "Whether it will happen I don’t know. ‘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."
The news comes after Russell reportedly commissioned musician Nick Cave to write a sequel script which had Maximus travelling through the afterlife in 2009, but it is unknown whether Ridley’s idea is linked to this in any way.
The original ‘Gladiator’ movie also featured talent from the likes of Joaquin Phoenix, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, and Oliver Reed, who filmed his role in the project prior to his death in 1999.
Oliver was posthumously nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the 2001 Oscars for his performance.
At the same ceremony, ‘Gladiator’ took home five gongs in total for Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role for Russel Crowe, Best Visual Effects, Best Costume Design, and Best Sound Mixing.
Ridley himself received a nomination for Best Director, but lost out to Steven Soderbergh for ‘Traffic’.
Sir Ridley Scott wants Gladiator sequel
