Ridley Scott‘s “Gladiator II” is following the flight path of another long-awaited sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick.”
The highly-anticipated film will screen November 13 as the 72nd Royal Film Performance, presented by Paramount Pictures and The Film and TV Charity. The fundraising event previously hosted “Top Gun: Maverick” in 2022 with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in attendance.
The “Gladiator II” screening is billed as the “global premiere” for the feature. Red carpet footage will be streamed to 30 cinemas hosting regional premieres across the UK. A limited number of tickets for the Royal Film Performance and global premiere screening will go on sale on October 16 via www.filmtvcharity.org.uk.
“We are hugely excited and honored that ‘Gladiator II’ will be the 72nd Royal Film Performance,” John Fletcher, the managing director of Paramount Pictures UK, said in a press statement. “This worthy charity is a fantastic partner for this hugely anticipated movie, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to a memorable night.”
Ridley Scott added, “Ever since making ‘Gladiator’, year after year, I kept asking myself, ‘Is there a sequel?’ After nearly 25 years, we are excited to finally answer that question for you, and audiences everywhere. Making ‘Gladiator II’ endorsed Orson Welles’ quote that ‘filmmaking is the best train set a boy could ever have.’ This was the biggest train set I’ve ever driven. It feels only right that the U.K. premiere of ‘Gladiator II’ is taking place in aid of the Film and TV Charity, an organization that works tirelessly to support the U.K. industry. I think it will live up to your expectations.”
“Gladiator II” stars Paul Mescal as Lucius, the son of Russell Crowe’s Maximus and Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla. While Crowe is not in “Gladiator II,” Nielsen returns for the sequel. The film is set 20 years after the events of the original feature; Joseph Quinn, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington co-star in this one.
“Gladiator II” will be released in the U.S. on November 22. The The Film and TV Charity screening will take place two days before the movie’s UK theatrical release on November 15.
This will be the first Royal Film Performance for new Film and TV Charity CEO Marcus Ryder, who said the following: “This Performance also allows us to raise crucial funds that enable us to continue offering vital support to talent in the film, TV, and cinema industry as they navigate challenging times. The past year has been particularly demanding, with mental health and financial pressures impacting our beneficiaries. And with the issues currently facing our cinema industry, it is more important than ever to use this as an opportunity to acknowledge the value of the silver screen and advocate for its preservation and support. With record levels of people supported over the last few years, we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to fundraising events like the Royal Film Performance and to the generous contributions from individuals and corporate partners across the industry. I’d like to give a special thank you to Paramount Pictures for all their hard work in making this event happen. Your support is instrumental in our mission.”
The official synopsis for “Gladiator II” reads: “From legendary director Ridley Scott, ‘Gladiator II’ continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.”
“Napoleon” screenwriter David Scarpa reunited with Scott to pen the script for “Gladiator II.” Scott’s original “Gladiator” collaborators, costume designer Janty Yates and production designer Arthur Max, returned for the sequel.
