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‘Gladiator II’ Producers on Returning to Ancient Rome: “We Didn’t Want to Be a Pale Imitation”

The Hollywood Reporter
Story by Brian Davids
from The Hollywood Reporter
Image from The Hollywood Reporter
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Producers behind the highly anticipated 'Gladiator II' reveal the challenges of resurrecting the Oscar-winning franchise and their hopes for a potential trilogy.
beat sheet
  • After decades of development, 'Gladiator II' finally found its breakthrough moment when the creative team conceived of Lucius, the reluctant prince who resents Rome, as the film's central character instead of resurrecting Russell Crowe's Maximus.
  • The colossal scale of 'Gladiator II' presented major logistical hurdles, including a mid-production shutdown due to the writers and actors' strikes, which forced the team to prematurely start filming and then later reassemble the production, adding significantly to the costs.
call sheet
Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher, Ridley Scott, Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Spencer Treat Clark, Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, May Calamawy, Denzel Washington, Red Wagon Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, Gladiator, Gladiator II, Moana 2, Memoirs of a Geisha, The Great Gatsby, Lawless, Spy Game, Kingdom of Heaven
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