According to a new report from Variety, the shutting down of production on Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator 2,” due to the ongoing actors strike, is costing Paramount/Universal $600,000 per week.
Scott’s sequel was filming in Malta and the cost of holding on to the rented soundstages is to blame for the exorbitant amount of wasted money.
The production shut down on July 13 and, according to a source, a depressed feeling started looming within the cast and crew who were in the middle of shooting a big action piece which was said to take place in the Roman Colosseum.
“There was just this sadness,” one source tells Variety. “We were completely out of the politics and just invested in the work. Now, a lot of people are going to lose their livelihoods, won’t be able to keep up home payments, school payments.”
Most of the cast, including Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal, began booking flights out of Malta, going back home, and now the production is in limbo.
I’m starting to wonder, how much much money are AMPTP members actually losing with every passing week where they refuse to negotiate? They probably don’t care, it’s a matter of greedy principle to them. That’s how it works with these types of people.
“Gladiator 2” isn’t the only big film losing this much money. Variety also cites “Deadpool 3” as having losses of around 600k per week. I’m sure there will be more reports of these sorts in the days and weeks ahead.
Gladiator 2 is scheduled for a November 22, 2024 release, but that date could very well be delayed if the strike doesn’t end soon.
Still no distributor for "Bucking Fastard," "Alpha Gang," "The Last Photograph," "Closing Night," and "The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd." The issue seems to be quality more than a lack of willingness to buy.