The Paul Mescal-led sequel has begun filming in Morocco.
Several crew members on the much-anticipated sequel to Gladiator were injured this week after an accident occurred amid the filming of a stunt sequence on the movie’s Morocco set.
According to Variety, six people received treatment following the accident on Wednesday (7 June) – four of which were still in hospital as of Friday, while the other two were treated locally and then discharged.
An individual with knowledge of the blockbuster’s production told the outlet that the crew members affected, none of whom were part of the cast, were treated for burn injuries.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Paramount Pictures – the studio behind the historical epic – described the injuries as “non-life-threatening” to Variety.
Their statement reads:
“While filming a planned stunt sequence on the set of the Gladiator sequel, an accident occurred during which several crew members experienced non-life-threatening injuries.
“The safety and full medical services teams on-site were able to act quickly so that those who were impacted immediately received necessary care. They are all in stable condition and continue to receive treatment.
“The well-being of the cast and crew is of the utmost importance to us, and we have strict health and safety procedures in place on all our productions. We will continue monitoring the situation and taking all necessary precautions as we resume production.”
Paul Mescal is starring in Gladiator 2
Released in 2000, the original saw Russell Crowe play Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman general reduced to slavery after being betrayed by Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Maximus then becomes a gladiator and rises through the ranks of the arena in order to get revenge.
Directed by Ridley Scott, the film became a commercial and critical hit, going on to win five Oscars including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe.
Scott is also helming the sequel that has been in the works for years and will see Irish actor Paul Mescal, fresh after earning an Oscar nomination for indie drama Aftersun, play the lead character – Commodus’ nephew Lucius.
He is joined in the sequel’s cast by Connie Nielsen, Denzel Washington, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, Fred Hechinger, Joseph Quinn, Lior Raz, May Calamawy and Pedro Pascal.
Barry Keoghan was originally set to appear in the sequel but was forced to step away from the project due to scheduling conflicts.
Scott’s frequent collaborator David Scarpa (All the Money in the World, Napoleon) is writing the script for the sequel, which is currently set for a 22 November 2024 release date.
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