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In the years since the release of the first film, there have been numerous attempts to write a sequel
Synopsis
Lucius is forced into the Colosseum and must look to his past to find the strength to return the glory of Rome to its people..
Musician Nick Cave was invited to record a version by Russell Crowe and Sir Ridley Scott
His version focused on the more mythic elements of Ancient Rome and would have seen Maximus arrive in the afterlife only to face other souls yet to ascend further.
He is eventually tasked by Jupiter and other Roman deities to return to earth to find and kill Hephaestus, a former deity who betrayed them
From there he is resurrected as a Christian and finds himself traveling back to Rome on a mission to stop the spread of Christianity until he crosses paths with the new Emperor Lucius.
The studio decided not to go through with this version, but the script is available to read online
The film would end with Maximus cursed to live forever, featuring a montage of the soldier fighting through the Crusades, World War II, and the Vietnam War, eventually revealing a modern-day Maximus working in the Pentagon in Washington.
Emperor Geta: The Gods Have Spoken!
Featured on The 7PM Project: Episode 3 July 2024 (2024)