"Gladiator 2" Resumes Production in Malta Next Week

The highly-anticipated sequel to the 2000 historic epic movie “Gladiator“ will resume shooting in Malta on December 4.

Shooting on the historical epic was delayed when the actors went on strike in July. 

However, the November 8 announcement that SAG-AFTRA, the actors union, had reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract has enabled studios to move forward on several productions. 

The actors strike lasted for 118 days and was resolved after studios gave the union first-ever protections for the use of artificial intelligence in film and television shows, along with a historic pay increase.

The sequel stars Paul Mescal, the Oscar-nominated “Aftersun” leading man, as well as Denzel Washington and “The Last of Us” actor Pedro Pascal. 

Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi, who appeared in the 2000 original, reprise their roles. 

Russell Crowe, who headlined the first “Gladiator,” isn’t in the sequel as his character dies in the first movie. 

The first movie was a massive hit and won an Oscar for best picture.

Scott’s latest movie, “Napoleon”, debuted in theaters last week. 

In an interview with the New Yorker tied to that movie’s release, Scott said he spent the strike editing 90 minutes of footage for the "Gladiator 2". 

It apparently includes “… a scene in which the hero fights a pack of baboons.” 

Scott said he got the idea for the sequence after watching a video of baboons attacking tourists in South Africa. 

“Baboons are carnivores,” Scott told the magazine. “Can you hang from that roof for two hours by your left leg? No! A baboon can.”

Paramount Pictures is distributing the sequel to “Gladiator” globally. The movie will open on November 22, 2024.