Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2 Sidesteps Rome for Unexpected Reasons

The upcoming sequel to Ridley Scott‘s epic film Gladiator did not have any scenes in Rome. Gladiator II has instead ventured into different territories for its backdrop, a decision shaped by circumstances beyond the control of its famed director. The sequel was unable to film in Rome, a location central to the original narrative, due to logistical conflicts with another production, Those About to Die. This TV series, spearheaded by Roland Emmerich and penned by Robert Rodat, had already claimed the essential filming spots in Rome.

This overlap left Scott to redirect the majority of his principal photography to Malta. Per Empire (via Screen Rant), Rodat expressed his regrets about this situation, acknowledging the limited filming resources in Rome that impacted Scott’s plans. He stated,

The choice of Malta as a stand-in for Rome is not new to the Gladiator series; the original 2000 film also used Malta to recreate the majestic ambiance of the Colosseum, with additional scenes shot in England and Morocco. The sequel followed a similar path, albeit not without its hurdles. The production was temporarily stalled by the SAG-AFTRA strike, and it encountered several other setbacks, including allegations from PETA of animal mistreatment due to the use of horses and baboons, and a serious accident that injured multiple crew members.

The film features a stellar cast with Paul Mescal stepping into the sandals of Lucius, a burgeoning gladiator inspired by the legendary Maximus Decimus Meridius, portrayed by Russell Crowe in the first film. The cast is further enriched by Denzel Washington, playing a former slave who has risen to prominence as a wealthy arms dealer with a vendetta against the rulers, and Pedro Pascal as a disgraced former commander. Joseph Quinn and Connie Nielsen also join, with Nielsen reprising her role as Lucilla from the original film.

The first look at Gladiator II was unveiled at CinemaCon in April, where it was met with praise, hinting at a successful reception among audiences. The news around the early footage has left studio executives impressed, though the release date for the official trailer remains uncertain.

Paul Mescal and Ridley Scott Celebrate the End of Gladiator 2 Filming

Recently, Paul Mescal announced the production wrap for the film. The actor took to social media to celebrate the event along with Ridley Scott. The director in one previous interview with IndieWire, detailed the trials encountered during the final stages of production. Filming was significantly delayed by a four-month strike, leaving the director to hurriedly finish the last 10 days of shooting.

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Is Gladiator 2 Destined to Be a Flop?

Given the success of the first film, Gladiator 2 certainly has a lot to live up to if it’s to be considered a worthy sequel.

“This house belongs to a general Robert of Napoleon’s army. I didn’t know when I got it. I’ve been here 29 years. It’s a holiday house. But sometimes I do quite a lot of work and writing here. So I find it restful. No one bothers you, so you get locked down. I’ve now finished almost 85 percent of “Gladiator.” We were interrupted by the strike, so I lost four months. Otherwise, right now I’d be mixing it. I went back about four weeks ago after the strike and nearly finished before Christmas and I’ve got to go back 10 days to finish. It’s a real pain.”

Speaking from a historic residence once owned by one of Napoleon’s generals, Scott pointed out both the challenges and the solace he found in his long-time holiday home, which also serves as a creative retreat.