Peacock's $140 Million TV Series Is Gladiator 2's Biggest Threat

Summary Peacock's new epic show poses a significant threat to Gladiator 2's success, potentially stealing its spotlight and audience anticipation.

Ridley Scott's recent box office disappointments and the success of Peacock's series add pressure on Gladiator 2 to perform well.

Despite the challenges, Gladiator 2's trailer reception at CinemaCon shows strong audience interest, with potential for success in late 2024.

Although Gladiator 2 will see Ridley Scott return to one of his best franchises, Peacock's new $140 million epic show could prove to be the upcoming sequel's greatest threat. With Gladiator 2 releasing to theaters in November 2024, Scott will return to Ancient Rome with a handful of new characters to present themes of violence, honor, duty, and deceit while also infusing a new gripping narrative. Additionally, Gladiator 2 could break multiple box office records given the talent involved and the anticipation surrounding its eventual release.

The Gladiator sequel is still a few months away, but an upcoming Peacock show has the potential to be Gladiator 2's biggest threat. While Gladiator 2 is exciting and has the potential to be one of the biggest movies of 2024, Ridley Scott's recent $200 million budget box office bomb is problematic for the sequel's future. Furthermore, Scott's more recent body of work hasn't quite performed as well as earlier entries in his career, so it further complicates its future. Still, with Peacock's new show in a similar genre, Gladiator 2 already faces its biggest competition.

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Those About To Die Is A Potential Problem For Gladiator 2

The TV Show Releasing Earlier Than Gladiator Can Take The Spotlight Away From It

Considering the similar setting, aesthetic, and July 2024 release, Those About to Die could take the spotlight away from Gladiator 2.

The trailer for Anthony Hopkins' Those About to Die offers viewers a brief glimpse into Peacock's upcoming epic sword-and-sandal TV series. Set in ancient Rome, Those About to Die will explore the corrupt politics that impacted the nation and the world at large. While Those About to Die can satisfy audiences eager for Gladiator 2's release, it also presents a unique challenge for the upcoming sequel that few other projects can. Considering the similar setting, aesthetic, and July 2024 release, Those About to Die could take the spotlight away from Gladiator 2.

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Based on the 1958 Daniel P. Mannix book Those About to Die: The Way of the Gladiator, the ten-episode series will treat audiences to unflinching displays of brutality in an effort to provide as accurate an account of its setting as possible. Furthermore, Gladiator's first draft was inspired by Those About To Die: The Way of the Gladiator, so it isn't a stretch to assume the two upcoming projects will share many similarities outside their aesthetics. While Gladiator 2 is still one of the most anticipated movies of 2024, Those About to Die puts more pressure on Scott's sequel.

Those About To Die Puts Even More Pressure On Gladiator 2

If It Does Well, It Will Create Even Higher Expectations For Gladiator 2

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While Gladiator 2 could be the movie to break Scott's recent trend, Those About to Die still puts a lot of pressure on it.

Scott's recent body of work hasn't quite lived up to the successes of his early career, like Alien, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, and American Gangster. Furthermore, Ridley Scott's recent box office trend doesn't bode particularly well for Gladiator 2's future since it is a legacy sequel to a film that's 24 years old. Peacock, on the other hand, has released a string of successful original TV series, such as Poker Face, Rutherford Falls, and Girls5eva. While Gladiator 2 could be the movie to break Scott's recent trend, Those About to Die still puts a lot of pressure on Scott's next historical epic.

Ridley Scott Historical Epics Budget Box Office 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992) $47 million $59 million Gladiator (2000) $103 million $465 million Kingdom of Heaven (2005) $130 million $218 million Robin Hood (2010) $155-237 million $321.7 million Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) $140-200 million $268.2 million The Last Duel (2021) $100 million $30.6 million Napoleon (2023) $130-200 million $220.9 million

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If Those About to Die is a hit, it will take away some of the spotlight from Gladiator 2. While little is currently known about Those About to Die outside its premise and setting, TV audiences haven't had a mainstream sword-and-sandal show in quite some time. Furthermore, Anthony Hopkins' involvement in the series suggests that the series will deliver a certain degree of quality, considering Hopkins' last starring role in a TV series was in 2016's Westworld. Even with the added pressure from Peacock's upcoming series, Gladiator 2 could benefit from the series.

Those About To Die Could Also Help Ridley Scott's Gladiator Sequel

Those About To Die Could Make People Want To See Gladiator 2 Even More

The positive response to Gladiator 2's trailer at CinemaCon proves that, despite being a legacy sequel, general audiences are still very eager to see what Scott's latest installment does for the first movie's legacy, as well as the epic sword-and-sandal genre as a whole. Furthermore, the idea that Gladiator 2 might be the movie that sees Scott return to form after a recent string of disappointing releases is also something worth considering when looking at the movie's hype. Although Those About to Die could steal some of Gladiator 2's spotlight, it could also increase the anticipation.

Those About to Die could be a flop, which could make audiences want to see Gladiator 2 even more. Alternatively, audiences could still want to see Gladiator 2 even if Those About to Die does well, simply because they enjoy the genre so much. Either way, Gladiator 2 stands to gain a lot from its late 2024 release, as demonstrated by the strong, positive response to it at CinemaCon. With the talents of Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal combined with Scott returning to one of his biggest franchises, Gladiator 2 is still positioned to be a success.