34/35
In the years since the first film was released, 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 into the Colosseum and must look to his past to find the strength to restore Rome’s glory to his people.
Musician Nick Cave was invited to write the version by Russell Crowe and Sir Ridley Scott
His version focused on the more mythical elements of Ancient Rome, and Maximus would have arrived in the afterlife only to confront other souls who have not yet reached their ascension.
He is eventually tasked by Jupiter and the other Roman deities to return to earth to find and kill Hephaestus, the ancient deity who betrayed them
From there he is resurrected as a Christian and is on a journey back to Rome to prevent the spread of Christianity, crossing paths with the new emperor Lucius.
The studio has decided not to pursue this version, but the script is available to read online
The film should have ended with Maxim doomed to live forever, a montage of the soldier fighting in the Crusades, World War II, and the Vietnam War eventually reveals a modern Maxim working in the Pentagon in Washington.
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Featured in The 7PM: July 3, 2024 Episode (2024)