The production of Gladiator 2 suffered an accident on set that injured several members of the crew.
Per Variety, six crew members received treatment with four being hospitalized following a June 7 accident on the set of the Gladiator sequel. In a statement, a spokesperson for Paramount Pictures outlined that the crew members had all “experienced non-life-threatening injuries” after a stunt sequence went wrong. The statement continued, “The safety and full medical services teams on-site were able to act quickly so that those who were impacted immediately received necessary care,” before promising that “they are all in stable condition and continue to receive treatment.”
A follow-up to 2000’s Gladiator, which starred Russel Crowe, has been in the works in one form or another since as early as 2001 when a prequel was suggested. However, the idea was later transitioned into a sequel. In 2019, producers Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald confirmed that the film “picks up the story… 25 years [after]” the original, which saw Crowe’s Maximus Decimus Meridius rise from the ranks of a lowly Roman slave to a fan-favorite gladiator.
The Cast of Gladiator 2
In January, it was confirmed that Normal People star Paul Mescal was in talks to play the lead role in the film as the son of Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla and the nephew of Joaquin Phoenix’s villainous Commodus. Although the BAFTA Award-winning and Emmy-nominated actor previously starred in films such as The Lost Daughter and Aftersun, his turn in Gladiator 2 would mark his first leading role in a major studio production.
When asked that same month whether he would be returning for or had any involvement in the sequel along with original director Ridley Scott, Crowe responded, “Not at all.” Crowe did offer fans insight into Gladiator 2‘s story, however, saying, “[In Gladiator] there was a young kid who wanted to beat the Gladiator?… So that young kid has grown up, and he’s now the Emperor. I don’t know what else happens at that point, but that’s the idea.”
In May, it was confirmed that The Mandalorian and The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal had entered final talks to join the cast of Gladiator 2, along with fellow newcomers to the franchise Barry Keoghan, Joseph Quinn, and Denzel Washington. Original Gladiator actors Nielson and Djimon Hounsou are both expected to reprise their roles from the first film for the sequel.
Gladiator 2 is expected to arrive in theaters on Nov. 22, 2024. The original Gladiator is available to stream on Paramount+.
Source: Variety