The runtime for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II epic has been revealed, and while it is one of the acclaimed director’s longest-ever movies, it’s seven minutes shorter than the original Gladiator starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. The sequel doesn’t hit theaters for another month, but Scott has already teased plans to make the saga a trilogy.
Slash Film reports that Gladiator II has a runtime of 148 minutes, or 2 hours and 28 minutes, making it shorter than Gladiator (2000), which ran for 2 hours and 35 minutes. Scott’s longest film is 2023’s Napoleon with a theatrical runtime of 2 hours and 38 minutes. He added 48 more minutes to the director’s cut, making it 3 hours and 24 minutes. The award-winning filmmaker is known for extending the running time of his movies throughout his career: Kingdom of Heaven (2005) is 2h 24m, Prometheus (2012) is 2h 4m, Alien (1979) is 1h 57m, and Blade Runner (1982) is 1h 57m.
Speaking to Empire about Gladiator II, Scott said, “It’s the best thing I’ve ever made.” He also told the outlet that the film features the biggest action sequence he’s ever done, saying:
“We are opening the film with the biggest action sequence I’ve ever done. It will be even bigger than the opening in ‘Napoleon.’ Audiences will see Lucius facing off with a rhinoceros in the Colosseum. I’ve got a rhinoceros that can run at 64 kilometers per hour, turn on the spot, and snort and roar thanks to artificial intelligence.”
Is Ridley Scott Planning a Gladiator Trilogy?
Gladiator II features a star-studded cast including Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn, and Pedro Pascal. It is set more than two decades after the events of the first film. Here’s the official synopsis:
“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.”
In Gladiator II, Lucius, the son of Lucilla from the first film, is all grown up and taking center stage as a reluctant hero. Along his journey, he crosses paths with various morally ambiguous individuals, including Denzel Washington’s character, Macrinus, an influential powerbroker.
Paramount Pictures released a promo featurette in which the Oscar-winning actor gushes over the production, saying, “This is the biggest film I’ve been on. It’s huge! Cecil B. DeMille on steroids!” Speaking to Variety about Washington’s role in the movie, Scott shared:
“Denzel is an arms dealer who supplies food for the armies in Europe, supplies wine and oil, makes steel, makes spears, weapons, cannons, and catapults. So he is a very wealthy man. Instead of having a stable of racehorses, he has a stable of gladiators. He’s beautiful. He drives a golden Ferrari. I got him a gold-plated chariot.”
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Ridley Scott Already Wants a Gladiator III, But He Is Getting Ahead of Himself
Ridley Scott has already discussed a Gladiator III, but he may want to hold off on this idea for a bit.
Scott drew inspiration from the political landscape of today to link it with the political intrigue at the center of the Gladiator II plot, particularly through the depiction of Rome’s ruthless rulers. “The people who are in charge are out of their minds, and everyone is too afraid to contradict. That’s familiar ground right now,” he said. According to Variety, Scott told France’s Premiere magazine, that he already has an idea for a third movie, and it takes inspiration from The Godfather. As he put it:
“I’m already playing with the idea of Gladiator 3. No, seriously. The end of Gladiator II evokes that of the Godfather, with Michael Corleone who ends up with a job he didn’t want, and who wonders, ‘And now, Father, what am I doing? ‘The next film will therefore speak of a man who does not want to be where he is.”
Gladiator II opens in U.S. theaters on November 22. The first film is available to rent or buy through Amazon Prime Video or stream it on Paramount+.