The long-awaited Gladiator sequel, Gladiator 2, has gotten a confirmed release date for late 2024. Ridley Scott directed the original Gladiator, which came out in 2000 and starred Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, and Oliver Reed. The film grossed north of $500 million worldwide on its $103 million budget. Scott is returning to direct a script from The Man in the High Castle scribe David Scarpa. Gladiator 2 is set to star Paul Mescal and Spencer Treat Clark. Gladiator 2 is one of many Scott-directed films currently in production, including his Alien prequel, Napoleon, and Queen & Country.

According to Deadline, Ridley Scott's upcoming Gladiator 2 will have a November 22, 2024, release date. That means the film will hit theaters during the weekend before American Thanksgiving. The Gladiator sequel will be the first return to the film's universe since 2000. The original film's ending set the stage for a very different future for the sequel, with Russell Crowe's leading character being killed. The new film will focus on young Lucius, who was introduced in the original as the son of Maximus' former partner Lucilla, who Connie Nelson portrayed. No further casting updates are available at this time, though those should continue to trickle in as the release date draws nearer.

November 2024 Is The Perfect Gladiator 2 Release Date


The release date update is a very exciting one. The film has been long in the works, but Gladiator 2 has hit numerous development hurdles that have pushed the highly-anticipated sequel back. Finally, a set release date has arrived, and it puts the film right in the middle of awards season. That is a good sign for the quality of the film, as November is a hot spot for films considered worthy of awards recognition from the Academy and otherwise since voting takes place not long after. This could mean that Gladiator 2 will aim to have a great deal of emotional resonance on top of its gladiatorial spectacle.

Given what is known about the film at this point, that makes sense. In the first Gladiator, Crowe's Maximus succumbed to battle wounds and passed away, meaning that Gladiator 2 would have to find a new way to continue the story. They will do that by following Paul Mescal's Lucius, who in Gladiator was the son of Lucilla, Maximus's former partner, and idolized Russell Crowe's Roman warrior character. So, despite the notable absence of the original Gladiator, his influence should be felt through Lucius' journey. The idea even opens up the possibility for engaging storytelling by way of Gladiator flashbacks or dream sequences.

Everything We Know About Gladiator 2


Very little is known on the casting front for the film, with Mescal's casting as Lucius being the only headliner to date. Reportedly, there was a huge auditioning process for the role of Lucius, including star names like Miles Teller, Austin Butler, Richard Madden, and Timothée Chalamet. Up-and-comer Mescal got the big gig after a lengthy process. Scott is confirmed to be back in the director's chair, as well, so after an excruciatingly long wait, Gladiator 2 seems to be set up for success.