Gladiator 2 Set Photos Reveal Construction Of A New Coliseum

As production gets underway on Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2, newly released set photos have given the first glimpse at the film’s impressive colosseum set. Scott’s upcoming film is a long-developed sequel to his 2000 historical epic that starred Russell Crowe as a Roman general who is stripped of his title and sold into the life of a gladiator after refusing to pledge loyalty to a cruel emperor. Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Barry Keoghan have all recently joined the Gladiator 2 cast.

As production ramps up on Gladiator 2, the Twitter fan account Paul Mescal Updates shared a number of images from the sequel’s set that gives a glimpse at the film’s impressive structures.

In the photos above, a new gladiator pit has been constructed in the Morocco filming location, with the structure seemingly being composed largely of wood, as opposed to the larger and impressive Roman set seen throughout the original film’s events. While the finished set could potentially look much different as construction continues, the wooden colosseum could also be part of a different structure seen alongside larger Roman arenas.

What Gladiator 2’s Colisseum Set Could Tell Us About The Sequel’s Story

With Gladiator 2 slated for a 2024 release, cinemagoers can finally look forward to seeing Scott’s long-anticipated, highly discussed sequel on the big screen. After the original film’s success at the box office and among audiences, talk of a sequel began in 2001, with ideas surrounding Lucius (Spencer Treat Clark) and his desire to learn more about the truth about his father or focus on Lucius’ parents themselves. Other ideas suggested that Crowe’s Maximus could be resurrected in stories that could potentially see him live until modern times.

However, with Crowe doubtful about a Gladiator 2 return and Mescal set to portray Lucius, a number of the sequel’s original ideas may have been scrapped in the upcoming film. With the sequel seemingly set on exploring Lucius’ later life, the recent set photos could show some of the after-effects of Maximus’ actions, with the smaller wooden arena representing the once-celebrated blood sport being cast aside and becoming a lesser-celebrated event after Maximus gained the people’s sympathy. On the other hand, the smaller arena could also be a form of training arena where gladiators hone their skills ahead of the games or potentially an arena built further away from Rome.

While details surrounding Gladiator 2‘s story remain unknown, the recent set photos do promise an impressive production on par with the original film’s setpieces. Alongside the film’s story, Gladiator was celebrated for its production values, score, and direction, leading to its 12 Oscar nominations and a total of five wins, including Best Picture. Despite filmmaking techniques changing in recent years, it is clear from the practical set that Gladiator 2 is set on recapturing its historic epic narrative in a way that honors its predecessor.

Source: Paul Mescal Updates/Twitter