British filmmaker Sir Ridley Scott has hinted at a third instalment to the Gladiator film franchise, drawing inspiration from the sequel to Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather. Gladiator II, set years after Sir Ridley’s historical epic released in 2000, which starred Russell Crowe as Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, is eagerly awaited.

The upcoming sequel features Irish star Paul Mescal as Lucius, the son of the late Maximus. Sir Ridley revealed that he had cut more than an hour from the first version of the sequel, hinting that a third Gladiator film could be on the cards instead of an extended version of the film, similar to what he did with the 2023 film Napoleon.

“There’s already an idea,” the 86-year-old director told The Hollywood Reporter. “I’ve always had this idea based on The Godfather Part II,” he said, referencing the 1974 film about the Corleone crime family. Gladiator II definitely signals it could be quite a large success. It’s almost got everything you need for that,” Sir Ridley added. The Blade Runner director also confirmed he had no plans to retire.

“Since (the original) Gladiator, I think I’ve done 16 movies — which is kind of a lot in 20 years,” he said. “I always envied being an actor and you can do two or three movies a year. They don’t have to do any prep except learn their lines. I’ve got to have it written, budget it, cast it, shoot it, make it, edit it, and deliver it.”

Sir Ridley Scott said he had perfected the art of prioritizing projects, admitting: “…I got good at cutting away all the crap. You can’t have 40 projects in development. That’s a bad idea. I usually have three or four.” He also revealed that he was approached to direct Top Gun: Maverick, but declined out of respect for his late brother Tony Scott, who directed the original 1986 film. “They asked me to (direct) it and I said, ‘I don’t want to follow my brother’,” Sir Ridley explained.

He noted that their directing styles and interests differed, with Tony focusing on contemporary stories and Sir Ridley often exploring historical, fantasy, or science fiction themes. Sir Ridley fondly remembered his brother, saying, “I miss my brother”, who passed away in 2012.

In other news, Gladiator II is set to premiere in the UK on November 15, with a global premiere in London on November 13, attended by King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the film’s stars, including Paul Mescal, Connie Nielsen, Denzel Washington, and Pedro Pascal, who will meet with Sir Ridley. For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter