🎬 Rampage 2 could charge into theaters in late 2025—if we imagine Dwayne Johnson and Brad Peyton overcame scheduling hurdles post-Rampage’s 2018 success. Johnson might reprise Davis Okoye, the primatologist with a knack for chaos, now facing a fresh genetic nightmare after George the gorilla’s Chicago rampage. Picture an opening in a rebuilt San Diego Zoo: a covert lab’s CRISPR experiment goes haywire, unleashing a mutated rhino and a winged jaguar, with Davis racing to stop them before they hit LA. Johnson’s 2023 tease of sequel potential (Geektown) and Peyton’s openness to return (same) fuel this speculative fire.

The narrative might pivot from Rampage’s pathogen fallout—Energyne’s remnants, led by a vengeful Harvey Russell (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), weaponize new creatures to settle scores. A mid-film twist could see George, healed but wary, reluctantly teaming with Davis again, dodging Naomie Harris’s Dr. Kate Caldwell, now a whistleblower hunted by her own tech. The climax might erupt on the Hollywood sign, beasts clashing as Davis quips through explosions—a nod to Johnson’s San Andreas flair. It risks retreading Rampage’s monster mash, but sharper stakes (global bio-threat?) could lift it, per X fans craving “bigger beasts.”

Thematically, it could wrestle with trust and tampering—Davis questioning science’s ethics as Kate’s redemption arc unfolds, echoing Jurᴀssic World’s cautionary vibe. George’s bond with Davis, strained by past trauma, might anchor the heart, while Russell’s rogue turn probes loyalty’s cost. X posts split on need—“Rampage was enough” versus “The Rock vs. a rhino? Sold!”—but Johnson’s producer Hiram Garcia noted in 2022 (Collider) studios want sequels; it’s Johnson’s call to prioritize (Red One, Jumanji). A lean script could dodge the “all spectacle” trap Rampage caught (51% Rotten Tomatoes).

Visually, expect Peyton’s chaos dialed up—LA’s sprawl as a monster playground, sH๏τ with Fury Road’s practical-CGI blend. Rhino charges through traffic and jaguar dives from skyscrapers could dazzle, with Weta Digital (rumored via fan boards) refining George’s scars and roars. Brian Tyler’s score might remix Rampage’s pulse with urban grit, though a $150 million budget—up from $120 million—risks CGI bloat over stunts (Johnson flipping a Jeep stays key). Posts on X dream of “4K beast fights,” but execution’s make-or-break.

Casting locks in Johnson, Harris, and Morgan, with Jack Quaid’s Connor potentially back as comic relief—his The Boys fame a draw. A new villain (Idris Elba as a bio-engineer?) could spice it, while George’s grunts (motion-capped by Jason Liles) steal scenes. The ensemble’s тιԍнт—Johnson’s charm, Harris’s steel—but Peyton’s history with Johnson (Journey 2, San Andreas) must avoid phoning it in. Garcia’s 2022 hesitance—“we told a great story already”—hints at risk, yet Johnson’s January 2025 Prime Video drop of Rampage (Screen Rant) might reignite buzz.

Ultimately, Rampage 2 (2025)—purely hypothetical—would chase $500 million, leaning on Johnson’s box-office clout amid a crowded slate (Moana live-action, July 2026). Real-world hurdles—Johnson’s packed 2025 (Red One promo, Fast rumors)—make 2026 likelier, with no studio greenlight beyond fan trailers (e.g., Warner Bros. Fandom’s fake 2026 date). It could roar as a dumb-fun sequel if it ups the ante, or flop as a Skyscraper-style misfire if it’s just “big meets bigger” again. For now, it’s a beast still caged, awaiting The Rock’s nod.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.