Gladiator 2 is scheduled to be released on the 22nd of November 2024, which is more than 24 years after the first film. The movie will have a mixture of returning and new cast members, but Russell Crowe will not be one of the returnees as his character, the beloved Maximus, died in the first film. This is a bit of a sour point for devoted fans, but they are nonetheless looking forward to the sequel.
When Will Gladiator 2 Be Released?
Gladiator 2 has a tentative release date of November 22nd, 2024. Of course, this is not set in stone as a number of unforeseeable circumstances may occur to push the date forward, such as hiccups in production. However, barring such issues, we will be seeing the iconic film in the theaters starting in November 2024.
This is 24 years after the first film, and while it is a large gap, it is not due to a lack of effort on the part of the makers. Plans for a Gladiator sequel or even a prequel have been in the works since 2001. The director, Scott Ridley, and other members of the production crew tinkered with several approaches they could take but canceled most of them.
They wanted a story that would do the legacy of the first film justice, and it seems they finally got it. Gladiator 2 will be set about 25 years after the first film and will focus on Lucius, Lucilla’s son, who turns out to be Maximus’ son. He is an emperor fighting battles and confronting corruption in Rome.
Will Russell Crowe be in Gladiator 2?
Russell Crowe will not be in Gladiator 2, and the reason is quite simple; his character died at the end of the first film after defeating the evil emperor, Commodus. However, his character was the major reason for the success of the first film, and as such, the makers of Gladiator sought a way to have him come back.
For several years, Crowe, Ridley, and others investigated ancient Roman beliefs about the afterlife. The actor, who won an Oscar for best actor for his portrayal of Maximus, also suggested a fantasy take that would bring him back to life.
Another suggestion was having Maximus resurrected from the dead and sending him back to earth as an immortal, eternal warrior. He would confront Christianity and Christ and would go on to take part in the Christian crusades, WW11, etc. At the end of much brainstorming, this did not seem so plausible, and the idea was ditched.
As such, Russell Crowe will not be in Gladiator 2, but he has spoken positively about the project revealing that it would be an entirely different story altogether and not just a sequel.
The Cast of Gladiator 2
So, if Russell Crowe won’t be in Gladiator 2, then who will? Well, the cast of Gladiator 2 includes Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Barry Keoghan, Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, May Calamawy, Fred Hechinger, and Joseph Quinn.
The cast of Gladiator 2 is a mixture of new and returning stars. One of the returning stars is Connie Nielsen, who played the role of Lucilla in the first Gladiator film. Her character had a romantic relationship with Maximus which resulted in the birth of Lucius, whose paternity is unbeknownst to most.
Another returning star is Djimon Hounsou as Juba. He is Numidian and was sold into slavery. He and Maximus got to fight together for their owner, Proximo, and they became very close pals. Juba survived the onslaught from Commodus and will appear in Gladiator 2.
Also appearing in Gladiator 2 is Derek Jacobi, who played Senator Gracchus, a Roman senator who stood up to Commodus. He survived as well and will be in Gladiator 2.
One of the new cast members of Gladiator 2 is Paul Mescal. Mescal is a 28 year-old Irish actor who has received multiple awards as well as an Oscar nomination. He will play Lucius and is the lead star of Gladiator 2. There is also the Oscar-winning Denzel Washington. He will be in Gladiator 2 though his exact role has not been unveiled. Early permutations, however, pitch him as being the major villain of the film.
