The Wrath of the Primates: Gladiator 2 Unleashes an Epic Baboon Battle
Gladiator 2 shocks audiences with a thrilling baboon fight scene, as Ridley Scott's dark fascination stems from witnessing these primates' aggressive behavior towards tourists in South Africa
In Gladiator's upcoming sequel, director Ridley Scott plans to surpass the excitement of a colosseum battle with tigers. His focus for Gladiator 2 shifts towards a more unsettling animal - baboons.
During an interview with The New Yorker, Scott expressed his eagerness to resume filming for Gladiator 2. Production was halted due to the Hollywood actors' union strike. However, Scott has been reviewing the 90 minutes of previously shot footage, which includes an intense action sequence featuring the protagonist confronting a troop of baboons.
Scott was deeply affected by a video he watched in which primates in South Africa targeted tourists. The image has remained vivid in his mind ever since. "Baboons are actually carnivorous," he remarked. "Could you hang from that roof with just one leg for two whole hours? I don't think so. But a baboon can."
Presumably, Paul Mescal, who stars as Lucius, the son of Lucilla, is expected to be the protagonist in this epic battle. The cast of Gladiator 2 will also include Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Derek Jacobi, and Connie Nielsen. In the meantime, Russell Crowe, the original star of Gladiator, has displayed a humorous response to the numerous questions he has been receiving regarding the sequel.
In July, TMZ obtained exclusive photos and videos of the colosseum set for Gladiator 2 in Malta. It was reported that the sequel was planning to film in London and Morocco as well, but production was stopped. Currently, Gladiator 2 is scheduled to be released in theaters on November 22, 2024. However, this date may be subject to change due to the ongoing strike by Hollywood actors.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about the upcoming Gladiator 2 movie. On the one hand, I am excited to see the return of the epic historical franchise. The original Gladiator movie was a huge success, and I am eager to see what the sequel has in store. On the other hand, I am concerned about the decision to include a baboon fight scene in the movie.
While I understand that Ridley Scott was inspired by a real-life incident in South Africa, I am not sure that it is appropriate to depict baboons as vicious and aggressive animals. Baboons are intelligent and social creatures, and I am worried that this scene will perpetuate negative stereotypes about them.
Overall, I am cautiously optimistic about Gladiator 2. I hope that the movie will be a worthy successor to the original, but I also hope that it will handle the baboon fight scene in a sensitive and respectful manner.
