Editing Maximus Decimus Meridius (section)

==Trivia==

*Although Maximus does not appear in ''Gladiator II'' due to his death in the original film, director Ridley Scott emphasized that the sequel's identity is deeply influenced by his legacy. To maintain a connection to Maximus, the storyline incorporates characters linked to him: Marcus Acacius, a general who trained under Maximus, and Lucius Verus, who cherishes memories of Maximus from childhood.
*Ridley Scott explored several ideas for resurrecting Maximus for a sequel. One early concept involved a dying warrior serving as a portal to bring Maximus back to life. However, Scott abandoned the idea, remarking, ''“That didn’t go down too well with the nobs. They thought it was ridiculous.”''
*Another, more radical concept was written by musician and screenwriter Nick Cave around 2006. In this version, Maximus was in purgatory, where he discovered that the gods were dying from a lack of worship. They tasked Maximus with returning to Earth to kill Jesus Christ and his followers. The idea was rejected by the studio and reportedly disliked by Russell Crowe, effectively shelving the project.