"Gladiator II," an upcoming historical action drama from director Ridley Scott, continues the saga that began in the 2000 blockbuster "Gladiator." This sequel, written by David Scarpa, shifts focus to Lucius, the former heir to the Roman Empire. When General Marcus Acacius, during the co-emperors Caracalla and Geta's rule, attacks his home, Lucius is thrust into the brutal world of gladiatorial combat. Paul Mescal leads a star-studded cast including Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Connie Nielsen. Produced by Scott Free Productions, "Gladiator II" is set to be released by Paramount Pictures.
2000: Events of "Gladiator"
The events depicted in the original "Gladiator" film, which set the stage for "Gladiator II", occurred in 2000.
2000: Events of "Gladiator"
The events of the original "Gladiator" film, which the sequel would follow, took place in 2000.
2000: Release of "Gladiator"
The original "Gladiator" film, to which "Gladiator II" is a sequel, was released in 2000.
June 2001: Sequel Development Begins
In June 2001, development for a sequel to "Gladiator" (2000) began, with discussions about potential prequel or sequel storylines.
June 2001: Initial Sequel Discussions
The first discussions about creating a sequel to "Gladiator" took place in June 2001, with David Franzoni and John Logan considered as potential screenwriters.
December 2002: Prequel and Sequel Elements
By December 2002, the plot for the "Gladiator" sequel was said to include both prequel elements, revealing details about Lucius's parentage, and sequel events, potentially involving the resurrection of Maximus.
September 2003: Script Completion and Focus on Lucius
Ridley Scott announced in September 2003 that the script for the "Gladiator" sequel was finished, confirming that the story would primarily revolve around Lucius, the secret son of Maximus.
May 2006: Story Development and Nick Cave's Script
In May 2006, while the development of the "Gladiator" sequel was ongoing, the specific storyline was still being determined. During this time, Nick Cave was commissioned to write a draft of the script, but it was ultimately rejected.
2006: Paramount Acquires "Gladiator" Rights
Paramount Pictures acquired the rights to the "Gladiator" franchise, including the sequel, when they purchased DreamWorks Pictures in 2006.
2006: Paramount Acquires Rights
DreamWorks sold the rights to the "Gladiator" franchise to Paramount Pictures in 2006, leading to a pause in the sequel's development.
March 2017: Scott Addresses Maximus's Return
Ridley Scott revealed in March 2017 that the challenges of bringing back the character of Maximus, who died in the first film, had been resolved, and discussions with Russell Crowe about reprising his role were ongoing.
November 2018: Paramount Greenlights Sequel
In November 2018, Paramount Pictures officially gave the green light for the development of a "Gladiator" sequel, with Ridley Scott in negotiations to direct and Peter Craig writing the script.
2018: Sequel Officially Announced
The development of "Gladiator II" was officially greenlit by Paramount in 2018.
June 2019: Producers Discuss Sequel's Timeline and Focus
Producers confirmed in June 2019 that the "Gladiator" sequel was still in development and that the current script was set 25-30 years after the events of the first film, with a focus on Lucius.
2019: Scarpa's Scriptwriting Journey
David Scarpa began working on the "Gladiator" sequel script in 2019, collaborating with Ridley Scott to find the right story approach.
April 2021: Chris Hemsworth's Involvement
Chris Hemsworth, while working with Russell Crowe on "Thor: Love and Thunder" (2022), expressed interest in joining the "Gladiator" sequel project, potentially as a co-producer.
September 2021: Scott Confirms Ongoing Script Work
Ridley Scott confirmed in September 2021 that the script for the "Gladiator" sequel was being actively worked on, and he intended to direct it after completing his film "Napoleon" (2023).
2022: Hemsworth and Crowe Collaborate
Chris Hemsworth and Russell Crowe, while filming "Thor: Love and Thunder" (2022), discussed ideas for the "Gladiator" sequel.
January 2023: Casting and Crew Announcements
In January 2023, several major casting decisions for Gladiator II were made. Paul Mescal was cast as the lead, and original film's production designer Arthur Max and costume designer Janty Yates were confirmed to be returning. Director Ridley Scott, impressed by Mescal's performance in "Normal People," cast him, choosing him over actors like Austin Butler and Richard Madden. Additionally, Denzel Washington joined the cast, and John Mathieson was set to return as cinematographer.
January 2023: Paul Mescal Cast
Paul Mescal was cast in the lead role for "Gladiator II" in January 2023.
April 2023: Casting Updates and Role Confirmations
April 2023 brought further casting news for Gladiator II. Connie Nielsen and Djimon Hounsou were announced to be reprising their roles from the original film, and Joseph Quinn joined the cast as Emperor Caracalla.
May 2023: Expanding the Cast
In May 2023, the cast of Gladiator II continued to grow with the addition of Pedro Pascal, May Calamawy, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Peter Mensah, and Matt Lucas. Fred Hechinger also entered negotiations for a role, stepping in after Barry Keoghan had to depart due to scheduling issues.
May 2023: Production Begins
Production on Gladiator II was initially anticipated to commence in May 2023. The process began with set construction in Ouarzazate, Morocco, in April, in preparation for filming.
June 2023: Filming Begins, Accident Occurs
Filming for Gladiator II commenced in June 2023, with locations including Ouarzazate, Malta, and the United Kingdom. However, a fire-related accident on set injured six crew members, briefly halting production. The film also faced delays in July due to Hollywood labor disputes.
June 2023: Filming Begins
Principal photography for "Gladiator II" commenced in June 2023.
2023: Scott to Direct After "Napoleon"
Ridley Scott reaffirmed his commitment to directing the "Gladiator" sequel after completing his work on "Napoleon" (2023).
January 2024: Filming Resumes
After a five-month hiatus due to labor disputes, filming for "Gladiator II" resumed in January 2024.
January 2024: New Composer Announced
In January 2024, it was revealed that Harry Gregson-Williams would be composing the score for Gladiator II. He took over from Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard, who scored the original film. Zimmer explained that he preferred not to repeat his previous work, expressing confidence in Gregson-Williams's abilities.
January 17, 2024: Filming Wraps
On January 17, 2024, filming for Gladiator II was completed after several months of shooting in various locations.
June 2024: Filming in South Downs
In June 2024, additional filming for Gladiator II took place on location at Devil's Dyke in the South Downs, Sussex.
June 24, 2024: Trailer Announcement
On June 24, 2024, Collider's Chris McPherson reported that the first trailer for Gladiator II would be released in mid-July. The trailer is set to debut alongside the Marvel Cinematic Universe film "Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)," which premieres on July 26, 2024.
July 26, 2024: "Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)" Release
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film "Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)" is scheduled for release on July 26, 2024. This release is significant because the first trailer for "Gladiator II" is expected to debut alongside it.
November 15, 2024: International Release Date
"Gladiator II" is scheduled to be released internationally on November 15, 2024.
2024: Footage Debuts at CinemaCon
In 2024, footage from Gladiator II was shown at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. The clips showcased scenes with Joaquin Phoenix as Caracalla, notably one where he decides the fate of gladiators in the arena, and Connie Nielsen was also featured in the background.