Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated Gladiator II has hit US theaters with a bang, and the legendary director has already confirmed plans for a third installment in the iconic series.

The sequel, starring Irish actor Paul Mescal as Lucius—the son of Russell Crowe’s Maximus from the 2000 Oscar-winning original—has garnered positive reviews and amassed $87 million globally since its early international release.

Speaking at the film’s glitzy US premiere in Los Angeles, Scott confirmed the continuation of the saga. “Given the performance in the rest of the world that we’ve seen yesterday, there’s certainly going to be a Gladiator III,” he said.

The 86-year-old filmmaker, renowned for classics like Blade Runner and Thelma & Louise, added, “Because it also becomes financial, and you’d be insane not to consider a third version.” Scott noted that the plot for Gladiator II was deliberately designed to “leave it wide open to a sequel.”

Mescal, whose character faces battles with bloodthirsty animals and humans alike in the sequel, hinted at a fresh direction for the third film. “I would be excited for it to go into a more political sphere,” he said, describing Lucius as a reluctant participant in court intrigue akin to Michael Corleone in The Godfather.

Scott emphasized the enduring relevance of the themes, stating, “A super-rich man thinks he can take over the Empire. Is that familiar?”

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