After taking 24 years to release a sequel to the award-winning film “Gladiator,” fans may not have to wait as long for “Gladiator III.”

Is he really making another film? “Yes, it’s true,” Scott confirms.

Thanks go to the legendary filmmaker and director of “Megalopolis,” Francis Ford Coppola, for inspiring this decision.

“I took some time over the weekend to think about it and realized I was borrowing this entire idea from Francis,” Scott explained shortly before the premiere of “Gladiator II” (hitting theaters on Friday).

For context, “Gladiator II” centers around Lucius (Paul Mescal), who years ago witnessed his father Maximus (Russell Crowe) perish in a fierce Colosseum fight against his uncle Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix).

In this next film, Lucius must confront his royal heritage and ultimately ends up fighting for survival in the legendary Roman arena, much like his father did.

Scott even draws parallels to Coppola’s “The Godfather” trilogy, particularly the final movie where Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) steps into his father’s shoes.

“In the end of ‘The Godfather’ series, Michael clearly doesn’t want that responsibility,” Scott continues. “I’m fascinated by a character who inherits a role he cannot escape. That concept intrigues me deeply.”

You can speculate about Lucius’s journey in “Gladiator III,” envisioning him as a reluctant leader in a decaying empire.

Another significant factor for Scott, aged 86, to return to these grand scenes in Malta is the efficiency he’s achieved.

“We completed ‘Gladiator II’ in just 51 days—quite an improvement from the 100 days it took the first time,” he boasts. How did they manage that? “We utilized 11 cameras. But, I wouldn’t advise this approach unless you know what you’re doing; otherwise, it could result in chaos.”

Connie Nielsen, who reprises her role as Lucilla (Lucius’s mother) in this sequel, emphasizes that like the original “Gladiator,” Scott ensures everything feels authentically brutal, even when CGI could have sufficed.

Reflecting on her experience in “Mission to Mars” (also 2000), Nielsen recalls, “I was suspended by wires in an enormous hangar, crying over my husband’s death, with nothing real around me. But that’s not the case with Ridley; he creates real environments. Everything—every battle—happens directly in front of me. Sure, some ships were on wheels instead of in the water, but they were moving around as men fought, creating an intense atmosphere.”

Ultimately, what drives Scott is the ambition to portray some of history’s most significant events on the silver screen. He recently accomplished this with his film “Napoleon” and finds ample material to explore in ancient Rome.

“I’m really fond of historical dramas, be it ‘Napoleon’ or this one,” he shares. “I have a true passion for them. To be honest, contemporary dramas often feel quite dull. However, in Rome, if you think about it, there were actual Christian families hiding in the shadows of the Colosseum while lions approached to consume their children. That really happened; it’s not fictional. It was even more horrifying than we can fathom.”

Scott takes a moment to reflect. Then his thoughts drift back to his respected colleague, Coppola, and he grins.

“In fact,” Scott continues, “the Romans were just as brutal as any gangster you might imagine.”