The past 20 years have seen much Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, Gladiator slayed at the box office, conquered critics, and stormed awards ceremonies. Twenty years later, Gladiator remains a historical classic with plenty to enjoy.
Preparations for Gladiator 2 began as early as 2001, with Ridley Scott, Russell Crowe, and original writer John Logan all confirming their interest in a return. Twenty years later, however, no such sequel has emerged. The overriding issue seems to be hammering out a script and story, with various angles and approaches falling by the wayside. Nick Cave even wrote an infamously awful Gladiator 2 script dubbed Christ Killer, which would've brought Maximus into the modern day. Despite a string of failures, Gladiator 2 has proved harder to kill than the Spaniard himself. The latest updates suggest Scott is still pushing ahead with the sequel which, as originally planned, will focus upon an older Lucius while still featuring Crowe in a prominent capacity.
There are many reasons a sequel might find itself in the dreaded Development Hell. Gladiator 2 is there because the first film's ending leaves no natural continuation whatsoever for Maximus' story. One of Gladiator's many strengths lies in its pitch-perfect ending. After valiantly fighting his way from imprisoned slave to a celebrity of Rome's famed Coliseum, Maximus has one single goal in mind - avenging his wife, child and previous Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, by killing Commodus. Beyond this single task Maximus' life holds no purpose, so when Commodus finally falls, it's incredibly fitting that Maximus follows. With his quest complete, Maximus is briefly seen in the afterlife, heading toward a reunion with his family. It's a bittersweet ending, certainly, but one that rounds off the Gladiator story perfectly.
Thematically and practically, Gladiator's ending should have consigned any sequel ambitions to the underworld. Gladiator 2 can't realistically go ahead without Russell Crowe's Maximus, but not only is the character dead, his narrative arc has been wholly satisfied. The only reason Maximus battled Gladiator's trials and tribulations was to vanquish the man who wronged him. What could Maximus possibly fight for in a sequel, now that he's at peace? These very obstacles are likely responsible for Gladiator 2's script troubles over the past 20 years. Any potential sequel would need to bring Maximus back to life (preferably in a way that doesn't undermine the first film), and conjure up a convincing motivation for him to take up arms. But for what? To go through another series of less meaningful, less exciting battles with a much older Russell Crowe?
Gladiator is by no means a perfect film, but it is a complete film. If Scott and co. had designs on a follow-up, they'd have been better served either keeping Maximus alive, or leaving some unfinished plot points for a sequel to address - even though this would've been to the film's detriment. There's obviously a financial appeal in revisiting the world of Gladiator, but when a film spends 20 years trying to figure out how to retcon what came before, this alone should be a clear enough signal that one movie was enough.
