Paramount and Ridley Scott’s anticipated sequel, Gladiator II, has been set as a Royal Film Performance, the studio and the Film and TV Charity announced this morning. The world premiere will be held in London on November 13, with red carpet footage streamed to 30 cinemas hosting regional premieres across the UK.
The sequel to Scott’s 2000 Oscar-winning Gladiator, the film 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 (Paul 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.
Gladiator II also stars Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz and Derek Jacobi, with Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington.
The global premiere will mark the latest Royal Film Performance delivered by the Film and TV charity in its 100-year history. The event is the flagship fundraiser for the charity which supports the tens of thousands of people working behind the scenes in the UK’s film and television industry. The last Royal Film Performance was the UK premiere of Parmount’s Top Gun: Maverick in 2022, and was attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Commented Scott today, “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 UK premiere of Gladiator II is taking place in aid of the Film and TV Charity, an organization that works tirelessly to support the UK industry. I think it will live up to your expectations.”
John Fletcher, Managing Director of Paramount Pictures UK, added, “We are hugely excited and honored that Gladiator II will be the 72nd Royal Film Performance. We feel this worthy charity is a fantastic partner for this hugely anticipated movie and on behalf of Paramount we look forward to welcoming everyone to what we hope will be a most memorable night.”
This is the first performance in the tenure of Film and TV Charity CEO, Marcus Ryder, who said the event “presents an opportunity to highlight the exceptional dedication and talent of those who work tirelessly behind the scenes. 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.”
Paramount will release Gladiator II in the UK and Ireland on November 15, ahead of the domestic start on November 22.
