MOVIE NEWS – The official runtime for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II has been confirmed, and while it’s one of the director’s longest films to date, it still clocks in at seven minutes shorter than the original Gladiator. The highly anticipated sequel, featuring stars like Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington, is set to hit theaters next month, and Scott has even hinted at turning the series into a trilogy.

According to Slash Film, Gladiator II runs for 148 minutes (2 hours and 28 minutes), which is just shy of the original’s 155 minutes. Interestingly, Scott’s longest movie to date is his 2023 epic Napoleon, which has a theatrical cut of 2 hours and 38 minutes, with an extended director’s cut adding 48 minutes, making it a whopping 3 hours and 24 minutes. Scott is well known for his love of longer films, with titles like Kingdom of Heaven (2h 24m), Prometheus (2h 4m), Alien (1h 57m), and Blade Runner (1h 57m) filling his resume.

Speaking with Empire about the upcoming sequel, Scott shared his excitement, saying, “It’s the best thing I’ve ever made.” He also revealed that the movie kicks off with what he claims is the biggest action sequence he’s ever filmed: “We open the movie with the biggest action sequence I’ve ever done. It’s even bigger than the opening of Napoleon. Audiences will see Lucius face off against a rhinoceros in the Colosseum. I’ve got a rhinoceros that runs at 40 miles per hour, can turn on a dime, and roar thanks to AI.”

Will Gladiator Become a Trilogy?

Gladiator II boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn, and Pedro Pascal. The film is set two decades after the original, with Lucius (Mescal) stepping into the spotlight. Here’s the official plot summary:

“Years after witnessing Maximus’ heroic death, Lucius (Mescal) is forced to fight in the Colosseum after his home is seized by tyrannical rulers. With fury in his heart and the fate of the empire in his hands, Lucius must confront his past to find the strength and honor to restore Rome’s glory.”

In Gladiator II, Lucius, now fully grown, reluctantly becomes a hero, crossing paths with morally ambiguous characters like Macrinus, played by Denzel Washington.

A featurette released by Paramount Pictures has Washington praising the production: “This is the biggest movie I’ve ever been part of. It’s massive! Like Cecil B. DeMille on steroids!” Scott, speaking to Variety, elaborated on Washington’s role as a wealthy arms dealer who controls much of Rome’s economy. “He doesn’t have racehorses. He’s got gladiators. He’s got a gold Ferrari. And we built him a gold-plated chariot.”

Gladiator II hits theaters in the U.S. on November 22, 2024.

Source: MovieWeb