‘Gladiator’ sequel is really happening: Release date and star revealed!
The long-awaited follow-up to Gladiator is finally moving forward.
Ridley Scott’s epic historical drama was originally released in 2000, launching the film career of Australian actor Russell Crowe.
The movie went on to win five Oscars at the 73rd Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for its leading man.
Watch the trailer here:
English filmmaker Scott has spoken many times over the past couple of decades about a sequel to Gladiator.
We’re going to be honest, at this point we thought it was increasingly unlikely to ever happen, but sometimes it’s a pleasure to be proved wrong!
A second Gladiator movie has been officially announced this week, with 85-year-old director Ridley Scott returning to helm the picture.
When’s the release date?
Paramount has given the movie a slot opening on Friday 22nd November 2024.
This is the weekend before Thanksgiving in the US.
We expect the UK and international release dates will be either the same day or shortly afterwards.
Traction on Gladiator 2 first appeared to be gaining last month when it was reported that Irish actor Paul Mescal was in talks to play the lead role.
While we’re still waiting on official confirmation of his involvement, Mescal’s recent Oscar nomination for his role in Aftersun has increased the 27-year-old’s star power even further.
The Normal People actor is said to be “Scott’s top choice following a fantastic meeting between the two.”
Deadline reports that “Mescal won’t be replacing Crowe’s Maximus, whose character met his end in the original film, but instead he will be playing Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), who now is a grown man as the story takes place years after the first film ended.”
They wrote: “Lucius also was the nephew of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the son of Roman leader Marcus Aurelius, who murdered his father [and] seized the throne. Commodus wound up in the gladiator ring with Maximus — who, though mortally wounded, skewered the emperor before fading into the great beyond to reunite with his slain wife and son.
“Maximus saved the boy and his mother while avenging his own family, and left a strong impression on the young Lucius.”
Russell Crowe has confirmed that he won’t be returning for the sequel, which makes sense considering his character’s fate in the first one.
It sounds like he’s fully supportive of the project, however, and he’s spoken with director Ridley Scott about the director’s plans for the movie.
Crowe revealed some Gladiator 2 story hints on the Fitzy & Wippa Podcast earlier this year: “We’ve had dinner and talked about it and all that stuff.
“So I know roughly how he’s shaping the story. But yeah, if you remember, there was a young kid who wanted to beat the Gladiator, which leads to the ‘My name is’ speech.
He explained: “So that young kid has grown up, and he’s now the Emperor. I don’t know what else happens at that point, so that’s the idea. So it’s not a remake. And it’s not a direct sequel. It’s not like the day after, you know, 30 years later or something.”
Also going ahead without original star Russell Crowe is a second Master and Commander movie!
Meanwhile, a new TV series based on the book which inspired Gladiator has just been announced too.
Set in the early days of the Roman Empire, Those About to Die is based on Daniel Mannix’s 1958 book of the same name.
The series will star Anthony Hopkins as Vespasian, a real-life Roman emperor who reigned from 69-79 CE.
Gladiator is available to watch on Showtime with a free 7-day trial.