I Would Have Enjoyed Gladiator 2 So Much More If Pedro Pascal's Character Was The Villain — & Acacius' Connection To Maximus Was The Way To Make That Happen

Pedro Pascal's Gladiator 2 role was an exciting bit of casting leading up to the movie, but it unfortunately ended up being a lot of wasted potential by avoiding a more complicated approach. Gladiator 2 was discussed as a possibility ever since the original Gladiator became a box office hit, a Best Picture winner, and a beloved classic. Given that Russell Crowe's Maximus died at the end of the first movie, a lot of time was spent trying to figure out how to bring Maximus back for a Gladiator sequel before deciding to focus largely on new characters.