Paul Mescal Paramount Pictures
Gladiator 2 director Ridley Scott is notorious for his grandiose approach to filmmaking, and his latest endeavor is no exception. The veteran director has promised an explosive opening sequence that will leave audiences reeling.
In a recent interview, Scott, 86, revealed that the film’s inaugural scene will be the most massive action sequence he has ever undertaken, surpassing even the epic battles of Napoleon. This bold claim has set the bar high for fans of the original Gladiator, which won five Oscars in 2001.
Scott’s impressive resume, which includes Alien: Covenant, Blade Runner 2049, and Napoleon, has earned him a reputation for delivering visually stunning and action-packed movies. Gladiator 2 is poised to be his most ambitious project yet, with state-of-the-art technology and a star-studded cast.
The sequel has been in the works for nearly two decades, with Scott announcing plans for a follow-up in 2003. After a 12-year hiatus, the project was greenlit in 2018, and fans have been eagerly awaiting its release ever since.
Ridley Scott’s Gladiator sequel has been a long time coming, and the film is finally taking shape — and heading to theaters soon — with an all-star cast. Scott directed the 2000 historical drama starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Oliver Reed, and more. The film was a box office hit and took home five Oscars. […]
In the 20 years since Russell Crowe first uttered the iconic line “Are you not entertained?”, technology has advanced at an incredible pace. Scott is embracing these changes to create action scenes that are more creative and elaborate than ever.
“Computerization and AI — you have to embrace it,” he said in an interview. “I can have a computer read every molecule and wrinkle on a rhino and then cut it on a thick piece of plastic, absolutely as a rhino’s body, which is then tailored to a skeleton shape.”
This technology will allow the sequel’s star, Paul Mescal, to face off against a computer-generated rhino in an epic battle.
“I have this thing that can do 40 miles an hour, spin on the spot, wag its head and snarl,” Scott said, adding, “A two-ton rhino with a guy on its back! I mean, it’s a lot of fun.”
While Joaquin Phoenix and Oliver Reed joined Crowe in the original cast, Mescal will take on the leading role in Gladiator 2 alongside Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn. Mescal will play Lucious, the former heir of the Roman Empire, who becomes a gladiator after his home is invaded by the Roman Army led by general Marcus Acacius (Pascal) during the reign of coemperors Geta (Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger).
In a recent interview, Mescal expressed concerns about the potential consequences of becoming too famous after taking on the role.
“I don’t know what the difference will be. Maybe that’s naive?” the Normal People actor, 28, said. “Is it just that more people will stop you in the street? I’d get profoundly depressed if that’s so and hope it isn’t true.”
He added, “I’ll have an answer next year, but if [the film] impacts my life in that way, I’ll be in a bad spot. I’d have to move on and do an obtuse play nobody wants to see.”
