The Ridley Scott sequel, Gladiator 2, is very much on the way, and this epic historical drama is now set to cost almost as much as one of the biggest Marvel movies.
There’s plenty of reasons to be excited aboutGladiator 2. For one, Gladiator was always one of Ridley Scott’s most memorable films. But combine that with a stellar cast and a budget that’s now hit Marvel heights, and you just know it’s going to be truly magnificent.
Gladiator 2 will take place 15 years after the original story and will focus on Lucius, who is looking to learn the truth about his biological father. Of course, there’ll be plenty of gladiator battles and bloodthirsty rulers, too.
Historical dramas usually require a lot of effort, particularly when they have a scope as epic as Scott’s. That said, the new reported budget is still pretty eye-watering.
Gladiator 2 costs almost as much as a Marvel movie
With an original budget of $165 million, Gladiator 2 has now reportedly cost $310 million, bringing it close to the budget of Avengers: Infinity War.
If that’s true, it may just end up in the ranks of the most expensive movies ever made. “It’s a runaway,” one source toldThe Hollywood Reporter. “It’s not being managed.”
Paul Mescal talking about Gladiator 2… I REPEAT PAUL MESCAL TALKING ABOUT GLADIATOR 2#EEBAFTAspic.twitter.com/iATijGURZi
Of course,Marvel‘s Infinity War would go on to make just over $2 billion at the box office, and is still one of the highest-grossing movies ever made. If Gladiator 2 can replicate even a fraction of that success (and with its star-studded cast, maybe it can), then it might have made the surprise budget a little bit worth it.
Jessica Cullen is a TV and Movies Writer on Dexerto’s UK team. She’s previously written for The Digital Fix, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29, Slate and more. Aside from being the residential Yellowstone expert, she also loves Westerns, ’90s action movies, and true crime. You can email her here: jessica.cullen@dexerto.com.
