Gladiator 2's Russell Crowe Replacement May Be Paying Off A 21-Year-Old Ridley Scott Idea
Gladiator 2 will be following the grown Lucius (Paul Mescal), and a recent trailer might confirm the sequel is resurrecting an old Ridley Scott idea.
Gladiator (2000)
Ridley Scott's historical epic Gladiator stars Russell Crowe as Maximus, a Roman general who is betrayed after the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). Pressed into slavery, Maximus is forced to fight in the Coliseum for the entertainment of the cruel new emperor, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Rising to the challenge and inspiring the slaves, Maximus fights to undermine Commodus's unjust rule.
Gladiator
Where to Watch
*Availability in US
- stream
- rent
- buy
- Director
- Ridley Scott
- Release Date
- May 1, 2000
- Studio(s)
- DreamWorks Distribution , Universal Pictures , Scott Free Productions , Red Wagon Entertainment
- Distributor(s)
- DreamWorks Distribution , Universal Pictures
- Cast
- Russell Crowe , Derek Jacobi , Oliver Reed , Connie Nielsen , Joaquin Phoenix , Djimon Hounsou , Richard Harris
- Writers
- David Franzoni , John Logan , William Nicholson
- Runtime
- 155 minutes
- Sequel(s)
- Gladiator 2
- Budget
- $103 million
Summary
A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery.
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Why Gladiator 2 Will Be Without One Crucial Element From Ridley Scott's Oscar-Winning Original Explained
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Why Paul Mescal Chose Gladiator 2 As His First Major Blockbuster Role
Academy Award-nominated actor and rising star Paul Mescal explains why he chose Ridley Scott's Gladiator 2 as his first major blockbuster role.
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Gladiator 2 First Footage Reactions Revealed After Studio Preview
Early footage of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2 has been shown to studio executives, and a new report summarizes what their reactions were like.
Gladiator 2 Will Miss Russell Crowe For 1 Significant Reason (& It Makes The Sequel A Bigger Risk)
Russel Crowe’s importance for the original movie goes beyond his role as Maximus, which makes his absence in Gladiator 2 bigger a problem.
Gladiator 2 Is Easily Going To Destroy A Box Office Record For Its Russell Crowe Replacement
Paul Mescal will take over for Russell Crowe as the lead of the Gladiator franchise, which should help him break a personal box office record.
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Gladiator 2 Completes Filming, New Star Celebrates With BTS Ridley Scott Image
Gladiator 2 star confirms filming has wrapped for the highly-anticipated sequel, celebrating the achievement with the renowned director Ridley Scott.
Gladiator 2's Story Confirms Lucius Really Is Copying Russell Crowe's Maximus
A recent update on Gladiator 2 reveals that Lucius’ story will be just like Maximus’ in the first Gladiator film, which is a big risk for the sequel.
Gladiator Might Not Have Happened Without Steven Spielberg's 3 Story Conditions
Ridley Scott's epic Gladiator was initially pitched to Steven Spielberg, who gave original screenwriter David Franzoni three crucial conditions.
Original Gladiator Star Confirms He Won't Appear In Sequel After Conflicting Reports
One star who played a prominent role in the original Gladiator alongside Russell Crowe confirms he won’t be returning for Ridley Scott’s sequel.
"We Can Bring Him Back": Ridley Scott Details Gladiator 2's Original Wild Plan For Russell Crowe Return
Director Ridley Scott details the original wild plan for Gladiator 2, which would have brought back Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius.
Gladiator 2 Sets Date To Resume Filming
Gladiator 2 sets a date to resume filming the movie after Ridley Scott's sequel was put on hold due to the dual strikes, which have been resolved.
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Denzel Washington Is Russell Crowe's Real Gladiator 2 Replacement, And It's Better Than A Maximus Return
Despite the excitement around Paul Mescal being the lead actor in Gladiator 2, Denzel Washington’s character will compensate for Maximus’ absence.
What Happened To Gladiator 2’s Lucius After Original Gladiator Revealed By Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott reveals more details about Paul Mescal’s Lucius in Gladiator 2 and what has happened in the years since the events of the first movie.
Gladiator 2 Update Offers More Clues About Denzel Washington's Role In Epic Sequel
Ridley Scott details the role being played by Denzel Washington in his upcoming Gladiator 2, offering clues as to how he fits into the story.
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Gladiator's Most Iconic Shot Was A Last Minute Addition & Never Planned
Director Ridley Scott explains how the most iconic shot from his 2000 epic, Gladiator, was a last-minute addition that was never in the script.
Gladiator Director Ridley Scott Reveals His Hot Take On Joaquin Phoenix's Villain 23 Years Later
Gladiator director Ridley Scott offers his hot take on Joaquin Phoenix's villain Commodus, 23 years after the epic movie was first released.
"Thank God It's Over": Gladiator 2 Gets Crucial Update From Ridley Scott After Actors Strike End
Gladiator 2 receives a crucial update from director Ridley Scott now that the SAG-AFTRA strike is finally over and the sequel can continue filming.