On November 15 in some parts of the world, November 22 elsewhere, one of the most highly acclaimed films of this century will get itself a sequel. While 2000’s Gladiator ended very conclusively, Ridley Scott has been ferried back in to extend the story and even create a series of films. Since the release of the first trailer, entertainment-seekers have been going mad for the historical epic.
The two official trailers from Paramount Pictures have earned over 30 million views, showcasing all kinds of action set-pieces and CGI beasts to battle in the arena. Even the ‘Making of an Epic’ video amassed over two million views in less than a week. There’s a lot of interest in the film and a grand big-screen return to the days of the Roman Empire, so much so that many other grand products that venture back to these ancient days are benefitting.
Falling Back to Rome
Everyone in the entertainment business has had the arrival of Gladiator II firmly circled on their calendars, and as we’ve moved closer and closer to the November date, other Rome-set products have seen significant upticks in users. This was most evident with the new Peacock streaming series Those About to Die. It promised to be a ‘Game of Thrones in Rome’ kind of show and caught headlines across the board for its action scenes and stacked cast.
The new show appeared to collect a great many viewers on its release, even ranking seventh with over 310 million viewing minutes in the week of July 19-25 – outpacing Master of the House, The Bear, and Simone Biles: Rising in the US. When it was released, the review scores were less than complimentary, so its hefty viewing figures are all the more an indicator of the Roman cravings this year.
It’s not just new creations that are picking up hefty audiences, either. In the realm of Canada online gambling games, the whole collection of gladiator-based slots has seen a lot more interest in 2024. Game of Gladiators Uprising, Gladiator Legends, and Action Boost Gladiator have climbed the rankings of late. The top slot, though, has to be Gladiator Mega Cash Collect, which is evidently linked to the 2000-released hit movie.
Will Gladiator II Deliver?
It’s a very tall ask for Gladiator II to deliver, especially when you consider the hype being whipped up around the film. If it’s on a budget of around $200 million – which is on the small side of most estimates – Gladiator II would need to collect over $800 million worldwide to emulate the commercial success of its predecessor. In its favor, however, is the interest being gauged by the data from Puck, but even these figures give Wicked a better shot at success.
Rather than being about equalling massive returns, for Gladiator II to deliver for the fans, it simply needs to tell a strong and compelling story that separates it from the many other high-profile retreads of the last five years or so. It’s also Ridley Scott’s chance to redeem himself as a storyteller after the weak outing of Napoleon in 2023. Good writing will underpin whether Gladiator II was worth the time and money or if it’s just another IP-smearing cash grab.
The trailers have leaned heavily on the fights with CGI animals, as well as the main character’s ties to the original’s protagonist, Maximus, which aren’t great signs. Relying on visuals and nods to the superficial elements of what came before has been the downfall of so many modern reboots, retreads, sequels, and prequels. Still, without Maximus, there is at least a lot of scope for a new, unique, and interesting story within the same setting.
Scott says that he’s already penned the outline for a third Gladiator movie, so you’d assume that he’s expecting Gladiator II to be a smash hit. Even if it’s not, there are plenty of other entertaining romps in Rome to be found.