It’s been 24 years since Maximus Decimus Meridius had his vengeance in Ridley Scott’s historical epic Gladiator. Today it is still a world-beloved piece of cinema in which screenwriters David Franzoni, John Logan and William Nicholson wove real-life figures of Ancient Rome into their fictionalised account of a general-turned-slave-turned-gladiator, iconically played by Russell Crowe. This November, a sequel is headed to cinemas, set potentially 15-20 years after Maximus brushed his way through a wheatfield to the afterlife. Irish actor Paul Mescal takes over as the lead, playing a grown-up Luc…