Ridley Scott’s historical epic Gladiator is considered by many to be one of the greatest films of all time. When it was released in 2000, it swept the Academy Awards and won Best Picture, Best Actor for Russell Crowe, Best Visual Effects, Best Costume Design, and Best Sound Mixing. With TV costume epics like Game of Thrones, Vikings, and Black Sails attaining widespread critical acclaim, along with multiple TV series reimagining films like 12 Monkeys, From Dusk Till Dawn, and Hannibal, could now be the perfect time for a Gladiator series?
For fans of Gladiator and the themes present in the film, there are a few series out there that would fit the bill. One of these is Spartacus, which ran for three seasons between 2010 and 2013. It centred on the legendary gladiator from ancient Rome, but only received a score of 63 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Another option would be HBO’s 2005 offering Rome, which was regarded as an excellent series but was discontinued due to a lack of viewers. Perhaps if the show was released now it would have a different impact, as Game of Thrones fans are constantly seeking something similar between seasons of the fantasy drama.
With Amazon currently in the process of making a series based on J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, other companies such as Netflix may look to revive iconic movies in the form of TV shows in an effort to compete. If this comes to fruition, Gladiator would be a prime candidate for an epic adaptation. The film is not only a classic, it is still around in popular culture today. The Gladiator slot game from Playtech is available to play at Mansion Casino, which is a casino online, and it features some of the themes from Scott’s movie. There is also a popular mobile gladiator game called I, Gladiator from Next Dimension Game Adventures Limited.
If a Gladiator series did go ahead, the producers would have to put some serious thought into casting. Crowe earned an Oscar for his exceptional performance as Maximus Decimus Meridius, and will always be associated with the role. There are a few actors who could step into those big shoes, though. One potential lead would be Travis Fimmel, who has been lauded for his scene-stealing performances as Ragnar Lothbrok in Vikings. Another strong option is Zach McGowan, who recently played the legendary pirate Charles Vane in Black Sails. He was considered to be one of the best characters in the show’s four seasons and is likely to have a lot of acting work offered to him in the near future.
TV is fast becoming a preferred medium for many actors and directors, as there is so much more scope in terms of storytelling and character development. If Gladiator was made into a TV show, the developers wouldn’t have to stick to the story of the film. Instead, they could detail Maximus’s rise to general in the Roman army and also focus more on other intriguing side characters. This is something that a lot of people would love to see happen.