Ridley Scott hinting at a third part to his Gladiator film has got fans worried. The filmmaker returns with a sequel to his Oscar-winning film on November 22. He recently revealed that he has ideas for a potential third film. Fans fear that Scott’s film may suffer a fate similar to that of Kevin Costner’s Horizon Saga.
Earlier, Costner announced four parts to his Western directorial venture Horizon. Costner had filmed and released the first part in June. Before the first film hit theaters, he announced the filming of a second and third part of the series. However, things went horribly wrong for the actor/director when Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 became a box office disaster.
Ridley Scott Already Has An Idea For Gladiator III
Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal starrer Gladiator II will hit theaters in a matter of months. The anticipation for the film is high among fans as it rides on the success of Russell Crowe’s first film. The glimpses fans got to see haven’t disappointed either and Ridley Scott looks to make a comeback after the average viewing experience of Napoleon.
Scott seems confident in his project and even went on to say that the new installation is going to be even more extraordinary than the original at CinemaCon. However, Scott’s recent comments are a cause of concern for many fans as he hinted at working on a potential third film in the series.
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Scott shared that he would rather do a Gladiator III than move on to other projects. He shared, “I’d rather get on into Gladiator III. There’s already an idea.” The publication also noted that he had also mentioned the threequel to the French magazine Premiere.
What’s this idea that Scott has found? He shared with THR that he will take inspiration from Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather II. The plot of the 1974 classic deals with parallel stories of Michael and Vito Corleone’s growth in the crime world. Fans are not sure how the Alien director would come up with a similar theme for Gladiator III, but it definitely sounds intriguing.
Interestingly, Roland Emmerich, the creator of the gladiator series Those About to Die, also revealed that the same Al Pacino film will serve as an inspiration for the second season of the series. Scott’s move may not be a step in the right direction after Yellowstone star Kevin Costner‘s similar decision ended up in a disaster.
Ridley Scott Treading A Dangerous Path Like Kevin Costner Has Got Fans Worried
Kevin Costner announced his dream project, Horizon, as a four-part film in June 2022. He completed the filming of the first film and entered into the production of the second and third films simultaneously in Utah in April 2023. It was more than a year before his first film was set to hit theaters. However, the progress halted in part due to writer strikes.
The production of the third film began in May 2024 eventually. The first film hit theaters on June 28, 2024. The film was not well-received among critics and viewers and received a Rotten Tomatoes score of 50%. It grossed only $34 million against a budget of $50 million (via The Numbers).
Despite the failure of the first film, Costner intends to complete the production of the third film. Costner’s new production company, Territory Film Studios, is investing in these next two parts. Movie enthusiasts have already deemed it a bad financial decision from the Oscar-winning actor.
Ridley Scott’s Gladiator III plans are not too far from being a bad decision like Costner’s. Fans want Scott to promote his new film and await the box office verdict of it, before setting his eyes on a third film.
Gladiator II will hit theaters on November 22. Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, will be released at an unspecified date in late 2024.
