In the years after the first film, there were many attempts to write a sequel
Story
When his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now rule Rome, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum and must look to his past to find the strength to restore the glory of Rome to his people. Musician Nick Cave was invited to produce the version by Russell Crowe and Sir Ridley Scott.
Eventually, Jupiter and the other Roman deities commission him to return to earth to find and kill Hephaestus, the former deity who betrayed them
His version focused on the more mythic elements of ancient Rome and saw Maximus arrive in the afterlife only to meet other souls who have yet to pass on. From there he is resurrected as a Christian and returns to Rome on a mission to stop the spread of Christianity while clashing with the new emperor Lucius.
The movie would end with Maxim being cursed to live forever
It follows a soldier fighting through the Crusades, World War II and the Vietnam War, eventually revealing a modern-day Maxim working in the Pentagon in Washington. The studio decided not to stick with this version, but the script is available to read online.
Emperor Geta: The Gods HAVE SPOKE!
Featured in The 7PM Project: 2024 July 3 Series (2024)