The real reason it took 25 years to make ‘Gladiator 2’ weighs 6,000 pounds, has a giant horn, and isn’t called Paul Mescal

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2 took an astonishing 25 years to come to life, and while you might think it was due to complex plot issues or challenges in casting, it turns out the real hold-up was something quite unexpected: a rhino. Yes, you read that right—a 6,000-pound, horned beast. Scott had always wanted to bring a rhinoceros into the first Gladiator film, but due to logistical and financial issues, the dream was shelved. The animal trainers told him that horned creatures were just too difficult to control, and when he tried to go the CGI route, the budget didn’t allow for it.

It became something of an inside joke on set, with producer Doug Wick even quipping that “if we ever do a sequel, Ridley gets his rhino.” Well, fast forward two decades, and Scott finally got his wish. Not just any rhino, but a digitally-created one so realistic that it could run at 40 miles an hour, snarl, and even wag its head—all with a skeleton structure tailored to the creature’s shape. Scott even bragged about the rhino being “real right down to his legs,” highlighting the cutting-edge technology behind it.

The quest for the rhino wasn’t the only challenge for Gladiator 2. The script also went through various iterations, including prequels and fantastical ideas like Maximus returning as an immortal warrior. Ultimately, Scott settled on a revenge-driven story led by Maximus’ son, Lucius. While the final product may not have been the movie Scott originally envisioned, it’s clear that patience—and a little bit of humor with the rhino—played a major role in bringing this sequel to life.

The question now is whether Gladiator 2 lives up to the greatness of the original. It certainly faced its share of hurdles along the way, but the journey itself might be just as memorable as the film itself.