Rabat – British director Ridley Scott is expected to arrive in Morocco in order to shoot scenes from the Gladiator sequel in the city of Ouarzazate, known as the “Moroccan Hollywood.”
Moroccan news outlet le360 reported that Gladiator 2’s executive production team is currently in negotiations with Ouarzazate’s Atlas Studios.
A “well-informed” source told le360 that “the [production] team is in the middle of negotiations because the price that was proposed was considered a little excessive.”
After over two decades of speculation, Gladiator 2 is finally moving forward with production and the script is complete, Scott announced last year.
“Oh, it’s been written. It’s already been written. We have a good footprint, a good, logical place to go,” the director said. “You can’t just do another Gladiator type movie. You’ve got to follow … there’s enough components from the first one to pick up the ball and continue it.”
Released in 2000, Gladiator is an epic historical drama film set in Roman times. The action movie depicted the story of a powerful Roman soldier who became a slave and was forced to become a gladiator, later rising to challenge the empire.
Morocco is among the world’s most popular filming destinations, attracting international film production companies.
The North African country has become home to major Hollywood films and international series productions, especially fantasy series. Scenes from popular series such as Games of Thrones, House of the Dragon, and the Wheel of Time were shot in Morocco.
Moroccan cities, notably Ouarzazate and Essaouira, serve as a backdrop for prominent productions thanks to their varied geographical locations and filming studios.
In addition, the ancient vibes of these cities offered the perfect cinematography for history and fantasy productions.
