After years of speculation over whether it would actually go ahead, the long-awaited Gladiator 2 finally has a release date. Ridley Scott has just released his Napoleon epic, and now he has time to turn his full attention to the Gladiator sequel. The 2000 picture was a cultural sensation and had a long-lasting effect on popular culture. Fans will be hoping that the new offering will have the same effect and help to add to the legacy of the original. All will be revealed soon, as the new title could drop in 2024.
Gladiator Had a Massive Impact on Popular Culture
Scott’s original Gladiator movie is easily one of the greatest and most successful offerings in the iconic director’s catalogue. The movie grossed over $500 million worldwide, which was highly impressive for the time. This made it the second-highest grossing movie of the year, behind Mission: Impossible 2. It was a magnet for accolades as well, winning five Academy Awards including the esteemed Best Picture. So, there’s no doubt that Gladiator 2 has a lot to live up to.
Aside from being a success on its own, Gladiator also had a lasting impact that can be seen in the entertainment industry today. In the subsequent years of its release, it’s popularity demonstrated the public appetite for the genre, which led to various other historical epics such as Troy in 2004. It has even had an influence on the gaming industry, as there have been countless titles set during the Roman Empire since then. The casino market is one of the best places to find these themes, with many online slots in 2023 using a Roman theme. For instance, there’s the Gladiator Legends, which is clearly heavily influenced by Scott’s film. There are also titles such as Rome Supermatch and Centurion Maximus Winnus Megaways, which have aspects that will remind players of Gladiator as well.
Gladiator 2 Will Have a Brand New Story
With Gladiator 2 set for a November 2024 release, there’s loads of information available about the new picture. It will be a sequel to the 2000 offering, meaning that there’s no potential for Russell Crowe to return – unless it’s done as a flashback. However, viewers can get excited about a star-studded cast that includes Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Connie Nielsen. The latter will reprise her role from the original, alongside Djimon Hounsou and Derek Jacobi.
At the end of Gladiator, Crowe’s Maximus Decimus Meridius saved Commodus’s nephew, Lucius. The new picture will star Mescal as a grown version of Lucius, serving as a tie in between the two pictures. However, the upcoming offering is likely to have a brand new story that’s completely different to the tale explored in Gladiator. However, to stay true to the original and the title of the picture, viewers are likely to be treated to many battles in the Colosseum. With Scott in the director’s chair and such an amazing cast, Gladiator 2 certainly has the potential to rival its predecessor. As long as it is a worthy sequel, many fans will be content, and it seems there won’t be long to wait now before the new movie drops.
