Gladiator 2 may not be bringing back Russell Crowe as Maximus, but it could be paying off a decades-long Ridley Scott concept. Gladiator became an instant classic upon release in 2000, instantly revitalizing director Ridley Scott's career and making Russell Crowe a movie star. The movie wrapped up perfectly too, with Crowe's Maximus having achieved his revenge before succumbing to his wounds. Of course, when the film was a gigantic success, Maximus' unambiguous death made sequel discussions tricky.
https://screenrant.com/gladiator-2-movie-paul-mescal-lucius-maximus-son/