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In the years since the release of the first film, there have been many attempts to write a sequel
Scenario
After his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now rule Rome, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum and must look to the past to find the strength to restore Rome’s glory to its people.
Musician Nick Cave was asked to write a version by Russell Crowe and Sir Ridley Scott
Their version focused on the more mythical elements of ancient Rome and depicted Maximus arriving in the afterlife, only to face other souls yet to ascend.
Eventually, Jupiter and the other Roman deities commission him to return to Earth to find and kill Hephaestus, the ancient god who betrayed them
From there, he is resurrected as a Christian and returns to Rome, with the mission of stopping the spread of Christianity while crossing paths with the new emperor, Lucius.
The studio decided not to make this version, but the script is available to read online
The film would have ended with Maximus being cursed to live forever, with a montage of soldiers fighting during the Crusades, World War II, and the Vietnam War, ultimately revealing a modern-day Maximus working at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
Emperor Geta: The Gods Have Spoken!
Featured on The 7PM Project: July 3, 2024 episode (2024)