Gladiator IIdirector Ridley Scott addresses the sequel’s budget after reports of costs spiraling out of control. 24 years after the acclaimed originalGladiator, Scott is returning to Ancient Rome for a new story following Lucius (Paul Mescal), Maximus' (Russell Crowe) son, as he becomes a celebrated fighter in the Colosseum.Gladiator 2trailershave teased that the sequel will be an action-packed epic, but a worryingreport about the sequel’s budgetin February of this year claimed that costs ballooned from $165 million to $310 million, which would have major implications for the film’s commercial prospects if true.
Though he doesn’t address thisGladiator 2report directly, Scott now seemingly shuts down these budget claims during an interview withTHR. The filmmaker doesn’t specify how much the sequel actually cost, but he does state clearly that “Gladiator is under budget.” He then holds up ten fingers signalling thatthe film ended up coming in $10 million under whatever budget was allotted.THRadds a note that, according to their Paramount insiders, the sequel had a net budget of $250 million.
What Gladiator 2’s Budget Claims Mean For The Movie
Will Ridley Scott’s Sequel Be A Success?
With the $310 million number having seemingly been debunked,Gladiator 2now has a much better chance of turning a profit in theaters. It will still be an uphill battle, however. Assuming the sequel ultimately cost about $240 million,it could be looking at a break-even point of $480 million up to about $600 million. Coming 24 years after theend ofGladiatorand not featuring the original star of that film makes the sequel a bit of a risk.
Gladiator 2 Needs $568 Million To Break A 7 Year Ridley Scott Box Office Record
Ridley Scott could break a seven-year-old record with Gladiator 2’s release as long as the sequel makes over $568 million at the box office.
The originalGladiatorwas a major box office success. The film was made on an estimated budget of $103 million and went on to gross $465 million worldwide. Using an inflation calculator, those numbers translate to roughly $188 million and $851 million, respectively, in 2024.Today’s theatrical landscape is very different, however, and it seems very unlikely thatGladiator 2will reach these same heights.
In addition to Mescal, theGladiator 2castfeatures Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Fred Hechinger. Two original stars also return in Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi.
There aren’t any clear comps forGladiator 2that have been released in recent years, so it’s hard to predict how well the film will perform.Early buzz forGladiator 2has been positive, but the film carries an R rating, limiting its potential audiences, and it stars an untested star in Mescal. What’s more, the film is also releasing the same weekend asWicked, which is expected to be a box office powerhouse.
Our Take On Gladiator 2’s Budget & Box Office Chances
Scott Wants To Make Gladiator 3
Scott has alreadyexpressed interest in makingGladiator 3, but whether that happens will depend on how well the sequel performs. Trailers have teased that it’s aiming to recapture the magic of the original movie, butbringing new audiences on board will also be crucial to achieving success. If the movie does succeed, it won’t just get a third film the green light, but it will make Mescal a true movie star.Gladiator 2’s fate remains up in the air at the moment, but it’s certainly shaping up to be Scott’s most epic movie in years.
Gladiator II
Cast
Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
