The Gladiator Sequel that Never was: A film to end all films

If you have never seen Ridley Scott's Gladiator epic from 2000, you have missed out on a truly seminal movie. Starring the brilliant Russell Crowe as the courageous Maximus Decimus Meridius, Gladiator boasted a superb narrative while it revived the careers of Crowe, Joaquin Pheonix and director Ridley Scott.

The ending of this film caused quite a stir, however, as Crowe's character found himself mortally wounded the final battle with Phoenix's villainous Commodus. In fact, he was dead and buried when the credits rolled, and this proved hugely problematic for production firm Dreamworks who were desperate for a sequel to capitalise on the films' popularity.

The Sequel that never was: What would Gladiator 2 have looked like?

While the death of Maximus Decimus Meridius may have seemed an insurmountable obstacle, however, various ideas were conceived to negate it. Some suggested that Gladiator 2 could take the form of a prequel, for example, focusing on Maximus' time as a General for the Roman army. Others proposed the twist of the Emperor's grandson Lucius actually being the son of Maximus, who would come of age in the sequel and take revenge on behalf of his father.

In fact, Crowe and Scott decided to pursue a different path, and one that would take a surprising, supernatural turn that followed Maximus as he tackled obstacles in the afterlife. Not only this, but they approached the Dreamworks studio who agreed that there was no harm in writing a screenplay and seeing how it played out. The maverick creative Nick Cave was engaged to create the script, and while the fruits of his labour are not widely known those who have read the manuscript have confirmed that it is a truly spectacular work of fiction.

The story begins with the lifeless body of Maximus, as he lies alone in a dense forest after being carried from the Colosseum. After he is set about by looters, he is confronted by a shadowy figure by the name of Mordecai who appears to be the gladiator's guardian in the afterlife. As the story progresses, it becomes apparent that Maximus' spirit must find his slain family, who are at further risk in the afterlife and desperately in need of a saviour. So while the narrative for the sequel would have closely followed the original in some respects, the macabre element of the supernatural elevated it above the standard action thriller.

Would the sequel have been a success or killed the Golden Goose?

Despite the lack of a sequel, the original Gladiator film launched a franchise that has achieved huge success over the course of the last 16 years. From console computer games to the hugely popular Gladiator slot title, the film has inspired a huge money making vehicle that remains lucrative to this day.

There is no telling whether the sequel would have improved this franchise, or potentially killed the golden goose and proved a Box Office disaster. The unusual nature of the screenplay would certainly have delivered one extreme or another, so in this respect maybe we should be grateful for the original film and the legacy that it has bestowed on us.