Gladiator 2 takes fans back to the heart of ancient Rome as new behind-the-scenes visuals of the upcoming star-studded historical epic emerge.
Per Collider, exclusive first-look photos from Gladiator 2's set show the hallowed Colosseum come to life, revealing a massive set including several vintage-looking buildings. The real, life-sized Colosseum was created rather than a CGI-inspired version of the building, further illustrating the upcoming project's size. The set is based in Malta, with filming beginning on the southern European island earlier this month after initial plans to start shooting this past March. Several tents cover the set, suggesting a significant workforce on hand to put everything together.
The long-awaited follow-up to 2000's Gladiator, directed by franchise helmer Ridley Scott, Gladiator 2 is going all out, not just in terms of its production setup, but also regarding its cast. Featuring Paul Mescal as its lead character Lucius, Gladiator 2 includes several Hollywood heavyweights, including Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal, as well as acclaimed actor Djimon Hounsou, who starred in the original Gladiator as Juba, a tribesman who became the ally of Russell Crowe's central figure, Maximus Decimus Meridius. Despite initial reports to the contrary, Crowe won't feature in the sequel, which makes sense, considering Maximus died near the end of Gladiator.
Gladiator 2 Will Have a Star-Studded Cast
Mescal, who's known for starring in the 2022 coming-of-age film, Aftersun, has been bulking up to play Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and nephew of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), who grew to admire Maximus after being saved by him in Gladiator. Lucius was previously played by Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. actor Spencer Treat Clark in the original movie. Mescal joined Gladiator 2 in January, with Washington joining in March. Nielsen and Hounsou were confirmed to be reprising their roles in April, while Stranger Things actor Joseph Quinn joined the cast to play Emperor Geta.
While overall production for Gladiator 2 looks impressive so far, the process hasn't been smooth sailing. On June 7, a stunt sequence accident occurred on the Gladiator 2 set, hospitalizing four crew members, though none of the injuries suffered were considered life-threatening.
The original Gladiator is considered one of the greatest historical movies ever made and an innovator for the sword-and-sandal genre. The film grossed over $503 million worldwide on a $103 million budget, winning three Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe.
Gladiator 2 is set to open in theaters on November 22, 2024.
Source: Collider