Does ‘Gladiator 2’ Have a Post-Credits Scene?

Audiences are preparing for their return to the Colosseum when Gladiator II releases in theaters on November 22. Continuing the legacy of Maximus Decimus Meridius, the sequel, 25 years in the making, stars Paul Mescal as Lucius, the son of Maximus and Lucilla (Connie Nielsen). After fleeing Rome, Lucius grew up in Numidia and developed a seething hatred for the Roman Empire. The sequel throws Lucius into the Colosseum after war ravages the country, telling the exciting next chapter in the Gladiator story.

After the credits roll on the 147-minute-long film (which is short by Ridley Scott’s standards), anxious viewers will be left with one question. “Do we have to stay to the end of the credits?” The Marvel effect is real, folks, as screenings of everything from Civil War to Oppenheimer have seen audiences wait until the end of the credits for a tease of a sequel or an extra scene. So, does the same apply to Gladiator II? Don’t worry; the following is completely spoiler-free!

Release Date

November 22, 2024

Cast

Paul Mescal , Pedro Pascal , Denzel Washington , Connie Nielsen , Joseph Quinn , Fred Hechinger , Derek Jacobi , May Calamawy , Peter Mensah , Matt Lucas , Alexander Karim , Tim McInnerny , Lee Charles , Chidi Ajufo , Alfie Tempest , Riana Duce , Chi Lewis Parry , Paul Candelent , Hadrian Howard , Alexander Simkin , Mikhail Basmadjian , Matthew Charlery-Smith , Maxime Durand , Lior Raz

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Does ‘Gladiator II’ Have a Post-Credits Scene?

If you’ve sat through the entire movie and are desperate to beat the traffic or are dying for the restroom after a two-and-a-half-hour film, then don’t worry. Gladiator II does not have a post-credits scene. Following the dramatic finale, the shot before the credits is the last we see of Gladiator II before the lengthy credits. Of course, you are more than welcome to stay through the credits to support the hundreds of people who worked on the movie.

Some fans were expecting Ridley Scott to follow the common trend of including a post-credits scene, which could have set up Gladiator III. Speculation has been growing online about how the sequel could tie into a third movie. Could Paul Mescal’s Lucius survive the events of the film, with an extra scene teasing his next big adventure? Or would a post-credits scene see the return of Maximus Decimus Meridius?

If the latter option is true, it would be eerily similar to an early draft of Gladiator II written by Nick Cave. The script saw Maximus returning from the dead as a champion of the Roman gods, on a mission to destroy Jesus Christ (we promise we did not make that up). It is highly unlikely that Russell Crowe will make any kind of return in Gladiator II. During the press tour for The Pope’s Exorcist, the Australian actor couldn’t keep his frustration contained about being asked endless Gladiator II questions despite confirming he doesn’t have a part in it.

Will ‘Gladiator III’ Ever Happen?

While US audiences are still waiting to see Paul Mescal carry on Russell Crowe’s legacy, UK and European viewers have already been entertained by the new sequel. Online forums and social media posts are filled with US fans desperate to avoid spoilers, while audiences from across the pond feel like they hold all the power.

Related

Ridley Scott Already Wants a Gladiator III, But He Is Getting Ahead of Himself

Ridley Scott has already discussed a Gladiator III, but he may want to hold off on this idea for a bit.

However Gladiator II ends, it is clear that Ridley Scott has a plan for a third installment. The director has already begun penning a script for the threequel, saying, “I’ve already got eight pages. I’ve got the beginning of a very good footprint.” Scott said that he never intended for Gladiator to become a trilogy. But, during the production of the sequel, ideas began flowing, and he found himself incredibly excited by a potential third movie. Gladiator II hits US theaters on November 22, 2024.