Pedro Pascal screaming as Acacius in Gladiator Gladiator II director Ridley Scott addresses the sequel’s budget after reports of costs spiraling out of control. 24 years after the acclaimed original Gladiator, Scott is returning to Ancient Rome for a new story following Lucius (Paul Mescal), Maximus’ (Russell Crowe) son, as he becomes a celebrated fighter in the Colosseum. Gladiator 2 trailers have teased that the sequel will be an action-packed epic, but a worrying report about the sequel’s budget in February of this year claimed that costs ballooned from $165 million to $310 million, which would have major implications for the film’s commercial prospects if true.

Though he doesn’t address this Gladiator 2 report directly, Scott now seemingly shuts down these budget claims during an interview with THR. The filmmaker doesn’t specify how much the sequel actually cost, but he does state clearly that “Gladiator is under budget.” He then holds up ten fingers signalling that the film ended up coming in $10 million under whatever budget was allotted. THR adds a note that, according to their Paramount insiders, the sequel had a net budget of $250 million.

What Gladiator 2’s Budget Claims Mean For The Movie

Will Ridley Scott’s Sequel Be A Success?

Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal) holds out his sword as in Gladiator 2
Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal yell while fighting in the Colosseum in Gladiator 2 Paul Mescal with cuts on his face in Gladiator 2 Paul Mescal as Lucius bleeding and holding a sword in Gladiator 2 Lucius (Paul Mescal) wields his sword while surrounded by armored individuals in Gladiator IILucius Verus (Paul Mescal) holds out his sword as in Gladiator 2 Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal yell while fighting in the Colosseum in Gladiator 2
Paul Mescal with cuts on his face in Gladiator 2 Paul Mescal as Lucius bleeding and holding a sword in Gladiator 2 Lucius (Paul Mescal) wields his sword while surrounded by armored individuals in Gladiator II

With the $310 million number having seemingly been debunked, Gladiator 2 now has a much better chance of turning a profit in theaters. It will still be an uphill battle, however. Assuming the sequel ultimately cost about $240 million, it could be looking at a break-even point of $480 million up to about $600 million. Coming 24 years after the end of Gladiator and not featuring the original star of that film makes the sequel a bit of a risk.

The original Gladiator was a major box office success. The film was made on an estimated budget of $103 million and went on to gross $465 million worldwide. Using an inflation calculator, those numbers translate to roughly $188 million and $851 million, respectively, in 2024. Today’s theatrical landscape is very different, however, and it seems very unlikely that Gladiator 2 will reach these same heights.

In addition to Mescal, the Gladiator 2 cast features Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Fred Hechinger. Two original stars also return in Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi.

There aren’t any clear comps for Gladiator 2 that have been released in recent years, so it’s hard to predict how well the film will perform. Early buzz for Gladiator 2 has been positive, but the film carries an R rating, limiting its potential audiences, and it stars an untested star in Mescal. What’s more, the film is also releasing the same weekend as Wicked, which is expected to be a box office powerhouse.

Our Take On Gladiator 2’s Budget & Box Office Chances

Scott Wants To Make Gladiator 3

Scott has already expressed interest in making Gladiator 3, but whether that happens will depend on how well the sequel performs. Trailers have teased that it’s aiming to recapture the magic of the original movie, but bringing new audiences on board will also be crucial to achieving success. If the movie does succeed, it won’t just get a third film the green light, but it will make Mescal a true movie star. Gladiator 2‘s fate remains up in the air at the moment, but it’s certainly shaping up to be Scott’s most epic movie in years.