Director Ridley Scott has clarified that Russell Crowe will not appear in the upcoming sequel 'Gladiator II' due to the character Maximus's death in the original film. Scott emphasized that the new story, centered around Lucius, the son of Lucilla, is designed to stand alone, with Crowe's involvement deemed unnecessary as he is 'dead'. Despite the absence of Crowe, the film features Paul Mescal as Lucius and Pedro Pascal as the antagonist Marcus Acacius, with a narrative set decades after the first movie. Scott noted that the plot was so apparent that it was initially overlooked as too simple. Although Crowe has expressed some annoyance at questions regarding his absence, Scott maintains a positive relationship with him. 'Gladiator II' is set to release in UK cinemas on November 15, 2024, and in the US on November 22, 2024.