Ridley Scott's Gladiator budget has doubled from $165 million to $310 million

Announced by THR, the new budget for Ridley Scott's 'Gladiator' is blown away. The sequel to the cult film has turned out to be more expensive than planned.

Here's What We Know

Fresh reports report that spending on the production of "Gladiator 2" has increased from the planned $165 million to $310 million.

So far, the development process has been nothing but worrying. It's not going super smoothly, to say the least, especially when you consider the accidents on set, animal cruelty allegations and last year's strikes, which cost about $600,000 a week in production downtime. In June, a botched stunt resulted in four crew members being hospitalised, and the following month animal rights group PETA accused the project of mistreating horses and monkeys. However, sources connected to the production denied PETA's accusations, pointing out that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was on location during filming to ensure their welfare.

Despite these difficulties, Ridley Scott kept working and resumed filming in December, continuing to film in Malta even during the strikes. Despite all the obstacles, the film is expected to present audiences with a visually exciting and emotionally intense sequel to the epic story.

Here's What The Movie Is About

The sequel, which has been in the works since 2001, shifts the focus from the original protagonist, Maximus, to Lucius Verus, the son of Lucilla and nephew of Commodus. Played by Paul Mescal, Lucius appears as an adult member of the royal family who has spent years in isolation, disconnected from his noble origins. Set some 15 years after the events of the original, the story continues with new twists and turns, maintaining the same majesty and drama that made "Gladiator" a cinematic masterpiece.

When We Can Expect It

"Gladiator 2" will be released on November 22, 2024.

Source: MovieWeb