'Gladiator 2' Release Date, Cast and Spoilers: All Things Fans Should Know By Now

“Gladiator 2” is underway! Scott will return to direct the follow-up to his Oscar-winning classic. For starters, “Gladiator,” which was released in 2000, has been regarded as one of the most extraordinary films in history, owing to its exceptional cinematography, unforgettable performances, and renowned score composed by composer Hans Zimmer.

The original grossed more than $503 million worldwide, exceeding forecasts and solidifying its status as a commercial success. In addition to its commercial success, “Gladiator” received positive reviews, with an 87% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an 80% critic rating. And now, 23 years later, a sequel is confirmed to be in the works. Here is everything we know about the upcoming “Gladiator 2” movie.

‘Gladiator 2’ Release Date

Luckily for fans, “Gladiator 2” is currently set for release on November 22, 2024. Scott has been working on the sequel for years, and the script is expected to be completed in late 2021. Production began in 2023, with sets built in Morocco and four months of filming planned in Malta and the United Kingdom.

Production was halted after 90 minutes due to the writers' and actors' strikes, which have subsequently ended after both unions reached new deals, and filming is likely to resume soon. In a recent interview with The New Yorker, Scott detailed a scene he shot before the closure.

“He’d been polishing the 90 minutes he had, including a scene in which the hero fights a pack of baboons; he’d been haunted, he said, by a video of baboons attacking tourists in Johannesburg,” the publication wrote. Following the strike, the director is eager to return to work, telling Deadline that it will be a "couple of weeks" before he returns to the set.

“Thank God it’s over. We shot about 90 minutes, at least that’s finished. It’s really getting the sets cleaned up; they’re already built. I got another 90 minutes to go,” he furthered. In another instance, six crew members suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

“While filming a planned stunt sequence on the set of the Gladiator sequel, an accident occurred during which several crew members experienced non-life-threatening injuries. The safety and full medical services teams on-site were able to act quickly so that those who were impacted immediately received necessary care. They are all in stable condition and continue to receive treatment. The well-being of the cast and crew is of the utmost importance to us, and we have strict health and safety procedures in place on all our productions. We will continue monitoring the situation and taking all necessary precautions as we resume production,” a Paramount spokesperson stated.

‘Gladiator 2’ Cast

The full cast of “Gladiator 2” includes Paul Mescal as Lucius, Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, Djimon Hounsou as Juba, Derek Jacobi as Gracchus, Joseph Quinn as Caracalla, and Fred Hechinger as Geta. Other stars expected to appear in the sequel include Lior Raz, Penter Mensah, May Calamawy, Matt Lucas, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington.

The original film had a famous cast, with Russel Crowe winning an Oscar for his main performance as Maximus and Joaquin Phoenix playing the hostile Commodus. More “Gladiator 2” cast are expected to be announced in the coming months.

‘Gladiator 2’ Spoilers

Little has been confirmed about the storyline of the “Gladiator 2” movie. The film's focus on Lucius, the little kid many will remember from the first film as a firm believer in Maximus, does, however, hint at the type of scenario audiences might expect.

Regardless of his ancestry, Lucius may follow in Maximus' footsteps and attempt to become a Gladiator in the Colosseum. In addition, it's becoming increasingly likely that his mother, Lucilla, will appear in the “Gladiator 2” film. Nielsen informed the New York Post in December 2021 that she was "not allowed to say anything" about reprising her role as Lucilla in the sequel. However, the most recent Deadline report is that she will.

Stay tuned for more “Gladiator 2” spoilers, news, and updates!

Photo: Paramount Pictures/YouTube Screenshot