Deadline reports that Ridley Scott has tasked a screenwriter to pen his untitled Gladiator sequel. Peter Craig will write the film which will focus on a grown Lucius. His writing credits include Top Gun: Maverick and The Town.
Gladiator 2 will follow the continuing story of Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), The youth was the nephew of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the weaselly son of Roman leader Marcus Aurelius who murdered his father seized the throne and wound up in the gladiator ring with Maximus, who though mortally wounded, skewered the emperor before fading into the great beyond to reunite with his slain wife and son. Maximus saved the boy and his mother while avenging his own family, and left a strong impression on the young Lucius.
The sequel is said to be developed at DreamWorks with Paramount and Universal working together to co-fiance it.
Disney’s Merlin Saga is the casting phase and is in pre-production, so we’ll assume that will happen first.
SOURCE: DEADLINE