Paramount is reportedly developing a sequel to Ridley Scott’s acclaimed sword-and-shield arena epic, Gladiator. As Deadline notes, Scott, currently directing his first TV series in South Africa for TNT, is eyeing a directing role for the film which Universal may possibly co-finance.
Inspired by Daniel P. Mannix’s 1958 novel, “Those About to Die”, DreamWorks acquired the film which Scott directed for its 2000 release, starring Russell Crowe as, Maximus, a Roman General-turned-exile who infiltrates Rome’s Colosseum to avenge the death of his family at the hands of the Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix. The film went on to nab 11 Oscar nominations and five wins, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe, and also released as the final film co-starring actor Oliver Reed who passed away during production.
Upcoming Logan’s Run remake scribe Peter Craig’s script will for see the new installment centric on Lucius, the Commodus’s nephew and grandson to Marcus Aurelius who watched as the mortally wounded Maximus conquer the Colosseum. The role was portrayed in the original film by actor Spencer Treat Clark at the time.
Scott Free will produce the sequel with Red Wagon’s Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher, along with Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald of Parkes + MacDonald.