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The sequel to Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator” has had a slightly turbulent production with accidents on set, a mid-stream interruption due to strikes and other incidents.
Now a new report in THR indicates that the project, which was initially budgeted at $165 million, has ballooned to almost double that figure, closer to $310 million.
The outlet says that studio experts insist that the net cost of shooting the film will be less than $250 million. Either way, the costs related to the work stoppage due to the strikes were said to have amounted to around $10 million alone, as production was stopped for five months.
A source tells the business: “It’s a leak. “It is not being managed.” Despite all this, studio executives are satisfied with the images they saw of the work and the film’s post-production is progressing smoothly.
The project stars Paul Mescal and co-stars Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Connie Nielsen, Djimon Hounsou, Matt Lucas and Derek Jacobi.
Mescal plays an adult version of the boy Lucius, son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), from the first film. Lucius has been “in the desert” for the past fifteen years and out of contact with his mother, who does not know where he is.
The film will take place in the early 3rd century AD, when the brothers Caracalla (Quinn) and Geta (Hechinger) ruled jointly as emperors. Caracalla was a bloodthirsty tyrant who ordered the murder of his younger brother just months after the death of his father.
Washington plays a former gladiator who gained his freedom and is now rich, but still holds a grudge. “Gladiator 2” is still on track to release on November 22.