Steven Spielberg Stopped Ridley Scott Directing Nick Cave’s Bonkers ‘Gladiator 2’ Script

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As a devotee of cinema, steeped in the rich tapestry of film history and its enigmatic behind-the-scenes tales, I find myself captivated by the intriguing journey of Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator II’. With a life spent immersed in the labyrinthine world of moviemaking, I can’t help but marvel at the serendipitous twists and turns that led to this eagerly anticipated sequel.

20 years after Ridley Scott’s seminal film “Gladiator,” I find myself stepping into a new role as an advocate for its sequel, “Gladiator II.” In this continuation, Paul Mescal portrays a mature Lucius, the son of Maximus Decimus Meridius, brilliantly played by Russell Crowe in the original. For devoted fans of Scott’s cinematic universe, you may have heard whispers of an alternate script that resurrected Maximus, but did you know that it was a legendary Hollywood director who prevented this from becoming a reality? During an interview with The New York Times, Scott reminisced about the original “Gladiator II” script penned by the illustrious musician Nick Cave.

In the original “Gladiator,” Nick Cave served as a consultant and developed a strong rapport with Scott when he started working on a sequel. However, Cave had already written a script for this sequel, which was quite distinct from the upcoming “Gladiator II” in American theaters. Scott was hesitant about Cave’s script, but Steven Spielberg ultimately nixed the idea for a sequel with an unconventional concept. Scott clarified:

In a creative twist, there was a proposed sequel concept penned by musician Nick Cave. This concept featured Maximus being brought back to life as a tool of the Roman deities, intended to confront Jesus Christ. However, this idea never materialized because it became too extravagant. Nick Cave is known for his flair for grandeur, and Steven Spielberg [who had been consulted on the original film] expressed his disapproval with, ‘No way.’ Uncertain about what we had developed, I ultimately decided to abandon the project.

‘Gladiator III’ Could Happen Soon (And Nick Cave Won’t Write It)

Known primarily for his music career, Nick Cave has authored multiple screenplays in the past. His most notable work is the undervalued 2012 western movie, “Lawless,” directed by John Hillcoat and featuring Tom Hardy, Guy Pierce, and Shia LaBeouf. Despite this, it’s clear Ridley Scott made a wise decision in rejecting Cave’s script for “Gladiator II.” Yet, one can’t help but wonder if the intriguing concept of Maximus battling Jesus Christ, as proposed in Cave’s script, would have been captivating on the big screen.

Although some people believed that we would never see a sequel to “Gladiator,” the announcement of “Gladiator III” being in development was met with delight. In an interview, Paul Mescal playfully hinted that it won’t take as long for the threequel to reach theaters. “I don’t think it will be [24] years — but I have no idea when it will be,” he said. However, fans will have to be patient as they wait for the trilogy to finish up. In the meantime, Scott and Mescal are set to collaborate on a different film titled “The Dog Stars.” This movie will transport them into a post-apocalyptic world, based on Peter Heller’s novel of the same name.

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2024-11-18 16:31