Few films can match the huge success of Ridley Scott’s historical film, Gladiator. Just when it seemed like movies about warriors in Ancient Rome reached their peak with titles like Ben-Hur and Spartacus, Ridley Scott brought a modern action film that raised the standard for production design in movies.
The film also featured amazing special effects. The technical aspects of the film, along with a strong and exciting plot, helped Gladiator make a lasting mark in film history.
Gladiator tells the story of Maximus (Russell Crowe), a Roman general who becomes a victim of a coup by the son of Caesar Marcus Aurelius, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix).
Maximus loses his rank and becomes a slave in the gladiator fights of Rome, while Commodus orders the killing of Maximus’s wife and child.
Driven by revenge for his family’s death, Maximus uses his fighting skills and military training to rise through the ranks of Rome’s toughest gladiators. He becomes a symbol of hope for Rome’s oppressed people before facing Emperor Commodus.
The film’s impressive scale, filmmaking skills, and exciting plot led to twelve Academy Award nominations, winning five, including Best Picture.
Since then, Gladiator is remembered as a classic by both critics and audiences. With Maximus’s final duel resulting in his death, it seemed the story was over. However, Ridley Scott has plans for Gladiator to continue.
Rumors about a second Gladiator film have been around since the first film’s success. Russell Crowe mentioned that talks about a sequel never really stopped.
Some past ideas included bringing Maximus back to life or having him fight mythological enemies in the Roman afterlife. As the long-awaited sequel is finally starting production, we will soon see if Gladiator II will stick to its realistic roots or add more fantasy elements.
Release Date for Gladiator II
Get ready for another journey to Ancient Rome as Gladiator II is set to release in theaters on Friday, November 22, 2024.
The same day, Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation of Wicked, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, will also open. This could create another “Barbenheimer” situation, and only time will tell.
The film will open one week earlier in the United Kingdom on November 15, 2024, and it arrives just before another major release, Moana 2, on November 27, 2024.
Will Gladiator II Be in Theaters or Streaming?
Gladiator II will have an exclusive theatrical release in November. The first Gladiator made an impressive $503 million at the international box office, far surpassing its budget of $103 million. With such success, it seems unlikely that Gladiator II would skip a theatrical release.
Fans of the thrilling gladiator battles would likely prefer to see it on the big screen rather than on a small screen. However, a streaming release might still happen, especially since Gladiator is under Paramount Pictures, making a release on Paramount+ likely.
Does Gladiator II Have a Trailer?
Paramount Pictures released the first official trailer for Gladiator II on July 9, 2024. This three-minute trailer shows epic battle scenes, gladiatorial fights, and a gladiator riding a rhino into the Colosseum to battle Lucius. The trailer features “No Church in the Wild” by Jay-Z and Ye.
A second trailer was released by Paramount on September 23, now featuring a more fitting classical score and showcasing intense coliseum battles, including fights against man-eating monkeys.
An extended five-minute teaser was shown to CinemaCon attendees in April 2024. Collider’s Britta DeVore attended and shared insights.
The teaser begins with a calm voiceover from Lucius Verus, played by Paul Mescal, who reflects on the past when a slave sought revenge against an emperor.
Now, Lucius commands attention in the Colosseum, facing challenges like razor-toothed monkeys and a man on a rhino.
The teaser also reveals other important characters, including a dashing Pascal, returning Nielsen as Lucilla, and a powerful performance from Quinn, who plays a mad co-emperor.
What Is the Plot of Gladiator II?
The official summary from Paramount Pictures reads:
From legendary director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome.
Years after witnessing the death of revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist.
With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.
In the first film, Lucius was a supporting character, played by Spencer Treat Clark. He is the nephew of Commodus and son of Lucilla. Lucius admired Maximus, who became a hero in the eyes of many spectators.
Inspired by Maximus, Lucius decided he wanted to be a heroic gladiator rather than seek the throne. His experiences with Maximus must have deeply affected him.
In the sequel, Mescal plays an older version of Lucius. The trailer hints that Lucius has followed Maximus’s path by choosing to enter the fighting pits instead of becoming Caesar.
Who Is Starring in Gladiator II?
Paul Mescal will lead the cast as Lucius. He received his first Academy Award nomination in 2023 for Aftersun. Ridley Scott noted that Mescal’s role in the popular series Normal People influenced his casting, saying he thought of Mescal as the script for Gladiator II developed.
Another exciting addition to the cast is Pedro Pascal, known for The Last of Us and The Mandalorian. He will play Marcus Acacius, Lucius’s rival who trained under Maximus and leads an army to take over North Africa. Pascal described his character as a skilled general who symbolizes everything Lucius hates.
Denzel Washington, a two-time Academy Award winner, will portray Macrinus, a major antagonist in the sequel. Macrinus is a former slave who wants to overthrow the Emperors and rule Rome.
This marks Washington’s first collaboration with Ridley Scott in over fifteen years since American Gangster. Scott explained that Macrinus’s character will show themes of freedom and revenge.
Joseph Quinn, known for his role in Stranger Things, will play Emperor Geta, who ruled from 198 to 211 AD. It is unclear if Geta will be a villain like Commodus, but Quinn aims to make the role his own, distinct from Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal.
Fred Hechinger, recognized for his role in The White Lotus, will play Emperor Caracalla, Geta’s brother. He described filming as an incredible experience, likening it to the thrill of live theater.
May Calamawy from Moon Knight will play a female lead in the sequel. Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi will reprise their roles from the first film as Lucilla and Senator Gracchus.
Russell Crowe will not return for the sequel due to his character’s fate in the first film. Crowe expressed discomfort about the sequel’s production, saying, “I’m slightly uncomfortable with the fact they’re making another one — because, of course, I’m dead and I have no say in what gets done.” He mentioned that some ideas he heard did not align with his character’s moral journey.
Djimon Hounsou, who played Juba in the first film, was expected to reprise his role but left the project due to scheduling issues.
Who Is Making Gladiator II?
Ridley Scott returns as director for Gladiator II. He is a well-known filmmaker with a long list of acclaimed films, including Alien, Blade Runner, and The Martian. David Scarpa writes the screenplay, having previously collaborated with Scott on All the Money in the World.
Many of Scott’s frequent collaborators are part of the crew, including Academy Award-nominated cinematographer John Mathieson, production designer Arthur Max, and costume designer Janty Yates.
The score for Gladiator II is composed by Harry Gregson-Williams, who has worked with Scott on several projects. He takes over from Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard, who created the Oscar-nominated score for the first film.
When and Where Did Gladiator II Film?
Filming for Gladiator II began in June 2023, mainly in Morocco, with additional scenes shot in Malta and the United Kingdom. Behind-the-scenes footage has been shared, offering view of the highly anticipated sequel.
Filming paused in July due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes. Once the strike ended in early November 2023, Gladiator II was one of the first titles to resume production.
This quick restart was important to prevent Pedro Pascal from having scheduling conflicts with The Last of Us Season 2.
On January 17, it was reported that filming for Gladiator II had wrapped after months of delays caused by the SAG-AFTRA strike. This occurred just over a year after it began production.
Will Gladiator II Be Rated R?
While Gladiator II has not officially received a rating, it is likely to be rated R due to the graphic violence in the original film. Gladiator features intense gladiatorial battles, bloodshed, and scenes of torture. Ridley Scott has indicated that the sequel will maintain the same tone as the first film.
Gladiator II is one of the most anticipated films of 2024. With an excellent cast and Ridley Scott returning as director, fans are excited to see how the story continues in Ancient Rome.
