16/50

In the years following the release of the first film, there were numerous attempts to write a sequel

Line of Events

After his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now rule Rome, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum and must look to his past to find the strength to restore the glory of Rome to its people.

Musician Nick Cave was invited to design a version by Russell Crowe and Sir Ridley Scott

His version focused on the more mythic elements of ancient Rome and saw Maximus arrive in the afterlife, only to be confronted by other souls who have yet to pass on.

He is eventually tasked by Jupiter and other Roman deities to return to earth to find and kill Hephaestus, the former deity who betrayed them

From there, he is resurrected as a Christian and finds himself on his way back to Rome on a mission to stop the spread of Christianity, meeting the new emperor Lucius.

The studio decided not to take on this version, but the script is available to read online

The film would end with Maximus cursed to live forever, would feature a montage of the soldier fighting through the Crusades, World War II, and the Vietnam War, eventually revealing a present-day Maximus working in the Pentagon in Washington.

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Appears in The 7PM Project: Episode 3 July 2024 (2024)