Gladiator II

Gladiator II
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ridley Scott
Screenplay by	David Scarpa
Story by	Peter Craig David Scarpa
Based on	Characters by David Franzoni
Produced by	Ridley Scott Michael Pruss Douglas Wick Lucy Fisher Walter F. Parkes Laurie MacDonald David Franzoni
Starring	Paul Mescal Pedro Pascal Joseph Quinn Fred Hechinger Lior Raz Derek Jacobi Connie Nielsen Denzel Washington
Cinematography	John Mathieson
Edited by	Claire Simpson Sam Restivo
Music by	Harry Gregson-Williams
Production companies	Scott Free Productions Lucy Fisher/Douglas Wick Productions
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release dates	October 30, 2024 (2024-10-30) (Sydney) November 15, 2024 (2024-11-15) (United Kingdom) November 22, 2024 (2024-11-22) (United States)
Running time	148 minutes[1]
Countries	United Kingdom United States
Language	English
Budget	$250–310 million (gross)[2] $210 million (net)[3]
Box office	$87 million[4]

Gladiator II is a 2024 epic historical action film directed and produced by Ridley Scott and written by David Scarpa, from a story he wrote with Peter Craig. Serving as a sequel to Gladiator (2000), the film was produced by Scott Free Productions and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington.^[5] Jacobi and Nielsen reprise their roles from the first film, with Mescal replacing Spencer Treat Clark. Mescal portrays Lucius, the son of Maximus and Lucilla, who becomes a gladiator after his home is invaded by the Roman army led by General Marcus Acacius. Lucius seeks revenge against Acacius and fights as a gladiator for Macrinus, a former slave who plans to overthrow the emperors Geta and Caracalla.

A sequel to Gladiator was discussed as early as June 2001, with David Franzoni and John Logan set to return as screenwriters. Over the next few years, Scott offered occasional updates, including the possible involvement of the original film's lead actor, Russell Crowe, along with plot ideas about the Roman afterlife and different historical time periods. Development was halted when DreamWorks sold the rights to the property to Paramount in 2006. The film was finally announced in 2018, and Mescal was cast in the lead role in January 2023, with a script by Scarpa. The rest of the cast signed on over the next several months. Filming took place between June 2023 and January 2024, with a five-month hiatus due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes.

Gladiator II had its world premiere in Sydney, Australia on October 30, 2024, and was released in the United Kingdom on November 15, and will be released in the United States on November 22. It received generally positive reviews from critics and has grossed $87 million. Another sequel, Gladiator III, is in early stages of development.