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Never Forget the Weirdo Version of Gladiator II We Almost Got
ComicBook.comStory by Lisa Laman
scrn logline
Gladiator II was almost a bizarre, immortal Maximus tale involving the murder of Jesus, but instead went with a more traditional legacy sequel approach.
beat sheet
- Russell Crowe and writer Nick Cave had pitched an outrageous Gladiator II script that would have had Maximus becoming immortal and intertwining with major historical events, including the murder of Jesus Christ.
- Ridley Scott and the studio executives ultimately rejected the fantastical Cave/Crowe vision, opting instead for a more conventional legacy sequel focusing on a younger generation, similar to recent hits like Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Creed.
call sheet
Russell Crowe, Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Ridley Scott, Steven Spielberg, Nick Cave, Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks, Gladiator, Gladiator II, Afterlife, Tron: Legacy