When Gladiator II was announced, Russell Crowe’s role was H๏τly debated, and it now seems like the sequel might have made the wrong choice. Crowe delivers one of his finest performances in Gladiator, bringing his magnetic screen presence to the role of Maximus Decimus Meridius, but this didn’t mean that he had to return for the sequel.
Since 24 years had pᴀssed between the first and second Gladiator movies, Ridley Scott had room to come up with a completely new story that didn’t directly tie to the events of the original. In the end, he crafted a story that repeats some of the familiar beats from Gladiator with plenty of new ideas thrown into the mix.
Gladiator II was a commercial success, meaning that another Gladiator sequel could be on the cards. If the franchise does grow and move forward, Crowe’s role could be eclipsed by the stars of this new era, like Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal. However, at the moment his shadow still looms large.
Before Gladiator II, Russell Crowe’s Return Seemed Like A Bad Idea
The Sequel Needed A Great Idea To Justify Bringing Maximus Back
The ending of Gladiator provides a poetic ending to Maximus’ story, as he gives his life to exact his revenge and achieve his political goals. His death means that it would have been hard to bring him back for the sequel, but the finality of this moment was an even bigger issue.
Since Maximus’ story already has the perfect ending after Gladiator, there was no need to bring him back 24 years later. In fact, doing so could have tarnished this memorable finale. It’s always a risk to bring a character back after their death, and Gladiator II would have needed the perfect execution to justify this move.
Russell Crowe’s Maximus Should Have Returned In Gladiator II (Albeit Not As The Star)
The Sequel Almost Tees Up Maximus’ Return In A Flashback Or Afterlife Sequence
Gladiator II flirted with bringing Maximus back. Of course, he appears very briefly in a flashback scene from the first movie, but Crowe could have returned without his appearance ruining the character’s arc. Showing Maximus in a more detailed flashback wouldn’t have been the only way to facilitate his return.
Throughout Gladiator II, Paul Mescal’s Hanno has a few glimpses into the afterlife, the first of which comes after he witnesses his wife’s death in battle and has his first near-death experience. These scenes have a unique look, but Gladiator II never explores their potential in much depth.
Crowe could have returned as Maximus in a flashback scene or one of these afterlife scenes. Either approach would have helped strengthen the link between Hanno – or Lucius Verus Aurelius – and his father Maximus, which is an important part of his story. The connection between the two heroes is also key in linking the two movies together.
The cast of Gladiator II is almost completely new, with Connie Nielsen providing the only important piece of continuity between the two movies. Russell Crowe shouldn’t have had a starring role, but his presence could have added more depth to Hanno’s character and the ongoing struggle for the soul of Rome.
An early draft of Gladiator II did allow for Crowe’s return, with a flashback scene that ultimately was scrapped. This scene would have focused on Maximus’ relationship with his son, and it’s still possible that something like this could end up in a potential Gladiator 3.
Gladiator II Without Russell Crowe Still Worked (Just Not As Well)
The Sequel Still Has Some Unforgettable Moments
Despite Crowe not returning, Gladiator II was still a commercial and critical hit. It still ranks as one of Ridley Scott’s best movies, demonstrating the director’s flair for huge action set pieces just like the original movie. The scenes that take place in the Colosseum are particularly thrilling.
Denzel Washington is one of the main positives in the sequel. His eccentric performance proves that he needs to play more villains, as he adds some unpredictable energy to an ancient political drama. Macrinus’ story is often more intriguing than Hanno’s, simply because it’s fresh and original.
Gladiator won 5 Oscars, indluding Best Picture, while the sequel failed to score any nominations.
In some ways, Gladiator II tries to play it safe by retreading old ground. Hanno’s path from military leader to enslaved gladiator to revolutionary hero is supposed to mirror his father’s journey from the original Gladiator, but it doesn’t hit quite as hard. While Mescal delivers a strong performance, he’s always chasing Crowe’s shadow, purely because the script calls for it.
Gladiator II has some eye-popping battles, but it fails to recapture the innate power of the first movie. Mescal never gets his own “are you not entertained?” moment, nor does he have a spine-chilling speech like when Maximus returns to Rome and finally comes face-to-face with Commodus for the first time.
The ending of Gladiator II is one thing that differentiates it from the first movie, since the hero survives to fight another day. If Gladiator 3 does become a reality, then Lucius’ story could quickly diverge from Maximus’, which would make a flashback or afterlife sequence with Russell Crowe less important. As it is, Gladiator II might have failed to reach its potential.
