Ridley Scott has gifted us with some of cinema’s most recognizable worlds, from the sci-fi universes of Alien and Blade Runner to the immersive Roman Empire offering, Gladiator. The iconic filmmaker has hinted that, with at least two of these franchises, there is still more to come.
In a recent interview, Scott revealed that Gladiator could become a trilogy, with the script for a third movie currently being drafted. He is also open to more Alien titles, but only if he can come up with a good way to expand the franchise in a fresh and exciting way.
Hope for Gladiator to Become a Trilogy
Many fans will be hoping that most of Scott’s focus will be on Gladiator for now, as this has become one of his most revered franchises. The original 2000 film was a critical and commercial sensation, and the second one built on it with a solid continuation of the story.
The influence of Gladiator on the wider entertainment market cannot be overstated either. When the original was released, it helped trigger a renewed interest in historical epics. For example, films such as Troy and Kingdom of Heaven followed in the years after its release. It may also have helped prime audiences for television series such as Rome, Game of Thrones and Vikings, which all used elements of historical storytelling.
The impact of Gladiator can be seen in the gaming industry too, where Roman themes are hugely popular. There was an official Gladiator casino online game based on the first movie, which may have inspired other slots such as Centurion.
Due to the incredible cultural impact that the first two Gladiator films have had, it makes sense to make a third movie to finish the trilogy. If a third film is made, it will likely follow Paul Mescal’s Lucius as he navigates the challenges of ruling Rome.
Scott Will Continue Alien If He Has a Good Idea
Gladiator may be one of Scott’s most esteemed franchises, but it was with Alien that he made his name as an iconic sci-fi director. Scott directed the original and two of the prequels and has been involved with the four other movies in the franchise, where he has served as producer or executive producer.
The future of the sci-fi franchise is less certain, though. It appears that Scott is open to continuing the franchise, but only if a good idea presents itself. The great thing about Alien is that there are countless possibilities to explore in future films. Prometheus and Alien: Covenant both explored the mythology and origins of the creatures, adding depth to the universe.
The recent Alien: Romulus was successful, and the franchise has also expanded into television. This shows that there’s still a lot of interest in Alien, so it may make sense to release another installment at some point.
The main problem for Scott now is that time is not on his side. At 88 years old, it’s fair to say that the filmmaker needs to be selective with his projects. Therefore, he may decide that Gladiator III is the priority.
