Gladiator 2 is finally happening, but the sequel has already broken the original movie’s final promise. Gladiator is one of the most critically acclaimed movies of the 2000s, with the film’s many iconic moments being burned into the pop culture ethos. However, Gladiator 2 has already promised that it won’t be paying off a key Gladiator line, with this decision being a risky choice.
Ridley Scott has returned to direct the long-awaited sequel to his 2000 classic Gladiator, with Gladiator 2 finally set to release soon. Gladiator 2 will follow some of the classic characters from the first film as well as several new characters, exploring the world of Gladiator years after the death of Maximus and Commodus. Details about Gladiator 2 are still being kept tightly under wraps, but one publicly-known detail has proven that the sequel is breaking the first film’s final promise.
Although some big names are returning for Ridley Scott’s much-belated sequel, there are a number of actors not coming back for Gladiator 2.
Gladiator 2 Can’t Reunite Juba And Maximus
Gladiator 2 will not be paying off the original Gladiator‘s final promise, as the sequel can’t reunite Juba and Maximus. While Maximus is the main character of Gladiator, Juba is one of his best friends, with the two fighting side-by-side throughout the film. After the death of Maximus, Juba ends the film by promising that the two will meet again – “but not yet.” As it turns out, however, this meeting won’t be happening in Gladiator 2.
Despite being the main character of the first film, Russell Crowe’s Maximus probably will not be appearing in Gladiator, to the disappointment of many. However, he isn’t the only missing character, as Djimon Hounsou’s Juba also won’t return in Gladiator 2. The news of this casting decision proves that Juba and Maximus won’t be seeing each other again in the sequel, meaning that the original film’s final promise won’t be fulfilled.
Gladiator 2 Ignoring The Original’s Last Line Is Good For The Sequel
Although the original Gladiator‘s final promise is being ignored by the sequel, this last line is good for the upcoming film. For Maximus and Juba to return, Gladiator 2 would have to explore the afterlife. Gladiator‘s subtle use of the afterlife is one of the things that makes the original film so elegant, and further explaining what happened to Maximus and his friends will take away this balance.
The status of Russell Crowe’s Maximus in Gladiator 2 has been massively controversial, but this major announcement made things a lot easier.
On top of that, moving away from Maximus and Juba will also allow Gladiator 2 to stand on its own. Gladiator 2‘s original cast of characters deserve to be in the spotlight, and bringing back these old characters will only take away from their story. Thus, Gladiator 2 not bringing back Maximus and Juba is a good thing, with it hopefully making the sequel a better final product.
