Will there be a Gladiator 3?

The dust has barely settled in the Colosseum after the release of Gladiator II, but the question on every epic film fan’s mind is already echoing through the halls of Rome: Will there be a Gladiator 3?

As of April 2026, the short answer is yes, but it’s going to be a very different beast than the films that came before it. Here is everything we know about the potential for a threequel.

Ridley Scott is Already Writing

Sir Ridley Scott, who remains one of the most prolific directors in the industry even at 88, isn’t waiting around. He has confirmed that he has already begun work on the script for Gladiator III.

In late 2024 and throughout 2025, Scott teased that he had “eight pages” of a footprint ready. He has since been more vocal about the direction, stating that the story is “certainly happening” and that the narrative was intentionally left wide open by the end of the second film.

A “Godfather-esque” Direction

If you’re expecting another two hours of sword-and-sandals combat in the arena, you might be surprised. Both Scott and lead actor Paul Mescal have hinted that the third instalment will move away from the games and into the political sphere.

Scott has famously compared the arc of Lucius (Mescal) to that of Michael Corleone in The Godfather.

• The Theme: A man who doesn’t want the job but is thrust into power.
• The Setting: Focus on the “serpents” of the Roman Senate and the internal rot of the Empire rather than just the gladiatorial pits.

The Return of Paul Mescal

Paul Mescal has expressed that he is “massively down” to return as Lucius. However, his schedule is the biggest hurdle.

Mescal is currently committed to filming Sam Mendes’ highly anticipated Beatles movies (playing Paul McCartney), which are expected to occupy much of his 2026 and 2027. Consequently, while Ridley Scott is ready to go, we likely won’t see Gladiator III in theaters until 2028 or 2029 at the earliest.

The Verdict

Gladiator III is a “when,” not an “if.” Ridley Scott seems determined to turn this into a definitive trilogy. If the second film was about Lucius finding his lineage, the third will likely be about him trying—and perhaps failing—to save Rome from itself.