Ridley Scott, the visionary director behind the iconic film ‘Gladiator’, finally spoke about the rumors surrounding ‘Gladiator 2’. The director confirmed the rumor about Barry Keoghan supposed part in the film.
He revealed that while Barry was to be a part of the film, scheduling conflicts led to him dropping out. Additionally, at the time of ‘Gladiator 2’s production Barry was working on ‘Saltburn’ which made it impossible for him to manage both films.
Ridley Scott Praises Barry Keoghan And Calls ‘Saltburn’ The Best Film Of The Year
Ridley Scott, while talking to the NY Times, revealed that Barry Keoghan was originally cast as a villain in the upcoming sequel, ‘Gladiator 2’. However, due to scheduling conflicts with the film ‘Saltburn‘, Keoghan was forced to withdraw from the project.
Related: Ridley Scott Reveals Joaquin Phoenix Nearly Quit ‘Gladiator’ Because Of Last-Moment Meltdown
“Barry got locked into ‘Saltburn,'” Scott explained. “I think that’s maybe the best film I’ve seen this year.” Despite the disappointment of losing such a talented actor, Scott acknowledged Keoghan’s exceptional talent. The director expressed admiration for his complex and controlled performances.
In addition to the casting changes, Scott also discussed the film’s budget. Contrary to reports suggesting a massive budget, the director revealed that he managed to keep costs under control by shooting the film in just 51 days. “I ended up $10 million under because I did the whole thing in 51 days,” he said.
Scott attributed this achievement to his experience and budget-consciousness. Additionally, he also hinted at the potential of using AI to enhance future filmmaking processes. “Now I’m trying to embrace A.I. I think it’s a great tool to help us, and I’m all for it,” Scott said.
Ridley Scott’s Persistence To Bring ‘Gladiator 2’ To Life
Ridley Scott’s unwavering passion for the ‘Gladiator’ led him to pursue a sequel, a project that had been in development for years. “The logic was very clear what it should be. Because frequently in a sequel, you’ve got no survivor, you’ve got no story, but we had a person [Lucius] who had suddenly disappeared out of the picture,” Scott explained.
In case you missed it: Ridley Scott Promises Brutal Action In ‘Gladiator 2’, Says “It’s The Best Thing I’ve Ever Made”
The idea of bringing back Russell Crowe‘s iconic character, Maximus Decimus Meridius, was initially considered. However, the director realized the limitations of such an approach: “Russell and I got together a couple of years afterward, and Russell said, ‘What can we do? I’m dead.’” he recalled.
“I suddenly thought there’s a way of bringing him back from the dead: As a man dies in battle, that is the opportunity to come from the dead side into the life side, to come back in the body of a soldier.” Scott believed that the only way to bring Crowe back would be to bring him as someone else.
Scott also talked about musician Nick Cave’s idea to resurrect Maximus. However, the director wants confidence in the idea that Cave had. Moreover, despite the challenges and the long wait, Scott’s determination to bring ‘Gladiator 2’ to life has finally paid off. The film is set to be a grand spectacle, filled with epic battles and emotional depth.
