Ridley Scott's long-awaited Gladiator sequel has not even hit US theatres yet, but the veteran director is already hard at work on a third installment.
Gladiator II, which arrives in North American cinemas Friday (Nov 22), stars Irish actor Paul Mescal as Lucius, the son of Russell Crowe's Maximus from the multiple Oscar-winning original.
The plot of Gladiator II was also "planned to leave it wide open to a sequel," added Scott, a famously prolific filmmaker who is still directing roughly a film per year at the age of 86.
POLITICALMescal – whose character battles bloodthirsty baboons, rhinos and sharks in addition to humans in Gladiator II – also expressed excitement about returning for another film.
We're going through exactly the same thing right now in several parts of the planet," he added.

Gladiator 3 already in works, say director and star