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In the years since the first film was released, there have been numerous attempts to write a sequel
Tale
After his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now rule Rome, Lucius is forced into the Colosseum and must look to his past for the strength to restore Rome’s glory to his people.
Musician Nick Cave was invited to write a version by Russell Crowe and Sir Ridley Scott
His version focused on the more mythical elements of ancient Rome and would have seen Maximus arrive in the afterlife, only to be faced with other souls who have yet to ascend further.
He is eventually tasked by Jupiter and other Roman deities to return to Earth to find and kill Hephaestus, a former deity who has betrayed them
From there, he is resurrected as a Christian and finds himself on a journey 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 cursed to live for eternity, with a montage of the soldier fighting in the Crusades, World War II, and the Vietnam War, finally revealing a modern-day Maximus working at the Pentagon in Washington.
Emperor Geta: The gods have SPOKEN!
Featured in The 7PM Project: July 3, 2024 Episode (2024)
