Gladiator II teases major shift with Lucius as new hero, hinting at Epic Two-Part story

​The director’s vision for the sequels was reportedly inspired by ‘The Godfather’ films, especially the character arc of Michael Corleone. Scott shared that, much like Corleone, Lucius would end up in a powerful but undesired position, likely as a leader in Rome. The end of ‘Gladiator II’, according to Scott, will leave Lucius questioning his path, setting up ‘Gladiator III’ to explore the challenges and responsibilities he faces in this role.