23/10

In the years following the release of the first film, there were numerous attempts to write a sequel

Scenario

After his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now run Rome, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum and must look to his past to find the strength to restore Rome’s glory to its people.

Russell Crowe and Sir Ridley Scott asked musician Nick Cave to draft a version

Their version focused on the more mythical elements of Ancient Rome and would have seen Maximus reach the afterlife, only to encounter other souls who have yet to ascend further.

Ultimately, he is tasked by Jupiter and other Roman deities to return to Earth to find and kill Hephaestus, an ancient deity who betrayed them

From there, he is resurrected as a Christian and finds himself traveling back to Rome, on a mission to stop the spread of Christianity, while crossing paths with the new emperor, Lucius.

The studio decided not to pursue this version, but the script is available to read online

The film would have ended with Maximus being cursed to live for an eternity, featuring a montage of the soldier fighting in the Crusades, World War II, and the Vietnam War, eventually revealing a modern-day Maximus working at the Pentagon in Washington.

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Featured on The 7PM Project: July 3, 2024 Episode (2024)