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A Gladiator 2 sequel has been floated for 20 years, ever since the original Gladiator‘s Oscar takeover and box-office success, and it’s finally arriving in 2024 — although it’s going to be very different from its predecessor, as all the Gladiator 2 news so far has revealed. Despite the ups and downs and numerous changing story concepts, the Gladiator sequel news revealed so far has confirmed it’s in production. The original Gladiator smashed the box office in 2000, taking in over $500 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo). It was beloved by fans and critics alike, gaining 12 Oscar nominations and taking home big prizes in Best Picture and the Best Actor category for star Russell Crowe.
Ridley Scott will once again be at the helm for Gladiator 2, and plans for Gladiator 2 have been in the works since the first film’s huge success and have gone through different scripts and creative teams. At one early stage, Nick Cave was attached as a screenwriter with a script that would see Crowe’s Maximus returning in a reincarnated form to go on a fantastical romp through historical eras, on a quest to be reunited with his wife and son. Thankfully, the plans have changed, and the latest Gladiator 2 plot will follow a much better story written by David Scarpa and picked up by Paramount.
The Latest Gladiator 2 News
The latest Gladiator 2 news finds the sequel already breaking records. It was reported that Gladiator 2 will receive a $50 million refund for its production taking place in Malta, breaking the cinema record for the EU. The Maltese government will issue the production a tax rebate of €46.7 million, or about 50.5 million in U.S. dollars for filming in the country. While tax rebates are often used as an incentive to encourage film productions to a certain region, this massive rebate for Gladiator 2 doubles the previous record-holding amount.
This is certainly good news for the Gladiator 2 production, which was always going to have a huge budget (especially consider that Gladiator had a budget of $103 million USD in the 1990s). The scale of the movie stands out among modern production with the set photos of Gladiator 2‘s coliseum sets showing the massive undertaking of the movie in recreating the blockbuster feel of the original. It is exciting to see a director like Ridley Scott being given the resources to create a sequel that Gladiator deserves such a big production with such a hefty budget. It’s not known what the final cost of Gladiator 2 will be, but with such a record-breaking rebate it’s safe to assume it’s incredibly high.
Gladiator 2 Release Date
The Gladiator 2 release date will be Friday, November 22nd, 2024. However, that date may now shift due to Gladiator 2 halting production during the SAG strike. Considering the bombastic display that was the first film, Gladiator 2 will likely have a full-blown theatrical release, as any Ridley Scott production is best enjoyed in theaters — especially when it’s a historic epic on the scale of a Gladiator follow-up. It’s probable that the Gladiator sequel will run in theaters for a time before getting a streaming release. Considering that the film was picked up by Paramount, audiences should expect to look at streaming service Paramount Plus after Gladiator 2‘s theatrical run.
Gladiator 2 Cast
The Gladiator 2 cast is quickly expanding with so many notable actors attached. The Gladiator sequel will see Academy Award-nominated actor Paul Mescal (Aftersun) take on the lead role of Lucius. In Gladiator, Lucius was the son of Roman empress Lucilla and Lucius Verus, nephew to the villainous Roman Emperor Commodus. In the original film, he was played by Spencer Treat Clark, but Mescal will be taking over the role.
Fred Hechinger is playing Emperor Geta in Gladiator 2, whom Barry Keoghan was originally rumored to be playing. Emperor Geta was a real Roman figure, who ruled from 198 to 211. Based on Geta’s history, it’s unknown if he could be the villain to succeed Commodus. However, Gladiator 2 could seek to change historical events for its narrative benefit. Another new actor joining the Gladiator 2 cast is Stranger Things‘ Joseph Quinn, who will play Emperor Caracalla.
There are other characters who survived Gladiator that will join the Gladiator 2 cast too. Connie Nielsen will return as Lucilla, Lucius’ mother, and Djimon Hounsou will return as Juba, a former gladiator. Derek Jacobi will also return as Senator Gracchus, a member of the Roman Senate. Several actors have been cast in as yet undisclosed roles too. Denzel Washington has also been cast in Gladiator 2, though his role has not been disclosed. Another notable Gladiator 2 cast member is Pedro Pascal, though he’s also in an undisclosed role. Other actors who have joined the cast in unknown roles include May Calamawy, Lior Raz, Peter Mensah, and Matt Lucas.
Russell Crowe Isn’t Returning For Gladiator 2
One of the biggest Gladiator 2 updates is that Crowe will not be returning for the sequel. Since Maximus died in the end, and bringing him back would be a huge jump-the-shark moment, it’s completely understandable that he’s not involved. However, many were hoping to see Crowe bring the iconic character to life again, and Crowe even mentioned in an interview with The Ryan Tubridy Show that he was slightly jealous of new actor Mescal’s opportunity to star in the period drama. Regardless, Crowe called Scott’s direction for the sequel “a very smart idea,” and wishes the best for Mescal:
I’m sure at some point in time they’ll want to ask me about something, but they haven’t brought anything up in a while. It’s an extension of the narrative, but it is long beyond Maximus’ passing, so it doesn’t really involve me at all. I hear that young fella Paul is a good dude and I wish him the best of luck with it. I think where they’re picking the story up from, a young Lucius, stepping into the role of emperor. I think that’s a very smart idea within the world of the film that we created.
Gladiator 2 Story Details
The Gladiator 2 story will take place over 20 years after the events of the original film and follow a now-grown Lucius as he takes on Maximus’ legacy. Lucius was the son of Lucilla (Nielsen), and he had a front-row seat to Maximus’ story in Gladiator. However, rather than ascending as Caesar, which was his birthright, he was moved by Maximus’ sacrifice and bravery, and swore to carry on his legacy. Gladiator 2 will likely see Lucius, now a grown man, fighting in the ring as his political ties come back to haunt him.
Gladiator 2 Trailer
The Gladiator 2 trailer has not yet been released. However, the movie began its earliest production stages and a few set photos have been released. Though the delays in production will surely end up affecting the movie’s release date, fans can expect the Gladiator 2 trailer to hit screens in 2024.
