All posts tagged: Gladiator

Musk’s ‘Kekius Maximus’ name on X could be a reference to Gladiator, but that’s not all. Here’s everything it could mean

Musk’s ‘Kekius Maximus’ name on X could be a reference to Gladiator, but that’s not all. Here’s everything it could mean

Published by Parlour News

Elon Musk changed his name on X to ‘Kekius Maximus’ on Tuesday, December 31, and even changed his profile avatar to feature an image of the popular Pepe the Frog character donning gladiator-like armor. While Musk has not yet offered an explanation for the name change, there are, of course, a few hints as to what it could mean. Elon Musk as ‘Kekius Maximus’: Here’s everything the bizarre moniker could mean (REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo/File Photo, @elonmusk/X) Everything ‘Kekius Maximus’ could mean People online have suggested that the new moniker could be a combination of Pepe the Frog and Russell Crowe’s character in Gladiator – Maximus Decimus Meridius. The Tesla boss’ profile picture features Pepe the Frog clad in golden armor, holding a video game controller. Pepe eventually started off as only a cartoon in the ‘Boy’s Club’ comic series. However, during the 2016 presidential election, it became associated online with white supremacists and the alt-right. The Anti-Defamation League said the character was a hate symbol, and called it “Alt Right’s favorite meme.” These claims, however, …

Oscar-Winning Director Christopher Nolan Shares His Thoughts Over Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II; ‘Like The Best Long-Awaited Sequels’

Oscar-Winning Director Christopher Nolan Shares His Thoughts Over Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II; ‘Like The Best Long-Awaited Sequels’

Published by Parlour News

Oscar-winning director Christopher Nolan revealed that Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II has taken the top spot in the list of his favorite films of 2024. While opening up about Scott’s movie during Variety’s Actors on Actors segment, the Oppenheimer director claimed that the Paul Mescal starrer was one of the long-awaited sequels, which worked as part two of the franchise while also refreshing the memory of the previous one.  The film, released in November, was declared a hit at the box office, while the critics, too, heaped praises on the movie. During the segment, the filmmaker went on to write, “Like the best long-awaited sequels, Gladiator II must be a remake and sequel in one, and it’s testament to Scott’s brilliance that he manages to balance the individual pathos of the original with the expansionist demands of the sequel’s central theme, bringing a lifetime of experience in controlling tone.” Meanwhile, the storyline of Gladiator II revolved around Mescal’s character, who played the role of Lucius. The character entered the Colosseum to avenge the death of his …

Did You Know Ridley Scott Was Asked To Reshoot Gladiator Halfway Through Filming?

Did You Know Ridley Scott Was Asked To Reshoot Gladiator Halfway Through Filming?

Published by Webster

Gladiator reshoot, Ridley Scott, Oliver Reed, CGI, movie magic ( Photo Credit – Instagram ) Gladiator isn’t just a movie; it’s a brutal, bloody, and brilliantly crafted tale of revenge that had us all chanting, “Are you not entertained?” Played by Russell Crowe, Maximus goes from general to Gladiator, slicing enemies to avenge his family and fight for his freedom. With epic battles and unforgettable moments, Gladiator became one of Ridley Scott’s finest films, even snagging an Oscar for Best Picture. But did you know halfway through filming, the insurance company thought the whole thing was doomed and advised Scott to reshoot it? Yep, Gladiator almost didn’t happen in the epic way we remember. Ridley Scott Had To Almost Reshoot the Entire Gladiator During a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter’s Producer Roundtable, wild info about Ridley Scott’s Gladiator surfaced, almost as dramatic as Hollywood. They had to reshoot the whole thing because before the film wrapped up, the legendary Oliver Reed, who played the iconic Proximo, passed away after a heart attack. Trending This left …

Why Does Ariana Grande Think Wicked And Paul Mescal’s Gladiator 2 Are ‘Strangely Similar’?

Why Does Ariana Grande Think Wicked And Paul Mescal’s Gladiator 2 Are ‘Strangely Similar’?

Published by Webster

Are Wicked and Gladiator 2 similar? (Photo Credit – Instagram) Last year saw the rise of a cultural phenomenon called Barbenheimer: a mashed up name of two blockbuster movies, Barbie and Oppenheimer releasing together. While the former film starred Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, the latter featured Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt. This year saw a similar instance of two completely different and much-anticipated movies, namely Wicked and Gladiator 2, releasing on the same day in the US. While it didn’t become a phenomena as massive and widely talked about as Barbenheimer was, the actors of the movie came up with the mashed name Glicked. Ariana Grande, who starred in Wicked, recently spoke to Paul Mescal, who featured in Gladiator 2, about how both their films were “strangely similar.” Here’s what the 31-year-old pop star divulged. Ariana Grande On Wicked And Gladiator 2 Being ‘Strangely Similar’ During the Actors on Actors conversation with Mescal, Grande stated that she felt both their movies were “strangely similar.” The former asked, “Do you?” The singer then said that …

Spike Lee Cheers For His ‘Brother’ Denzel Washington Following His Golden Globes Nomination For Gladiator II

Spike Lee Cheers For His ‘Brother’ Denzel Washington Following His Golden Globes Nomination For Gladiator II

Published by Parlour News

Denzel Washington has received a nomination at the Golden Globes 2025 for his performance as Macrinus in Gladiator II. To cheer for his longtime friend and celebrate his nod at the award ceremony, Spike Lee gave a shoutout to the veteran star during his conversation with the audience at the Red Sea Film Festival. Lee and the Equalizer alum have known each other for more than a decade and share a brotherly bond, having worked together on multiple films. Lee has recently been occupied with the post-production of Highest 2 Lowest, in which he shared screen space with Washington for the fifth time, after previously collaborating with the actor on Malcolm X, Mo’ Better Blues, Inside Man, and He Got Game. While sitting down for a discussion at the event, the Old Boy star shared, “Someone pointed out to me that the last time we worked together was 18 years ago. I was surprised because it didn’t feel that way. I’m very blessed to have done five films together; he is arguably the best actor on …

Gladiator 2 cinematographer reveals why the quality of Ridley Scott’s films have been negatively impacted | Hollywood

Gladiator 2 cinematographer reveals why the quality of Ridley Scott’s films have been negatively impacted | Hollywood

Published by Parlour News

After 24 years of collaboration, Gladiator II cinematographer John Mathieson seemed to have slammed filmmaker Ridley Scott calling him impatient. He also criticised Ridley’s “lazy” approach to storytelling. Also read: ‘Wicked,’ ‘Gladiator II’ bring in $270.2 million in global box office Gladiator 2 stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington. John Mathieson speaks up During an interview on The DocFix Documentary Storytelling Podcast, John criticised Ridley’s filming process on Gladiator 2. He said, “It’s really lazy. It’s the CG [computer graphic] elements now of tidying-up, leaving things in shot, cameras in shot, microphones in shot, bits of set hanging down, shadows from booms. And they just said [on Gladiator II], ‘Well, clean it up… He is quite impatient so he likes to get as much as he can at once. It’s not very good for cinematography.” Talking about Ridley’s use of multiple cameras, John added, “He is quite impatient so he likes to get as much as he can at once. It’s not very …

Will There Be a Gladiator III? Find Out as Ridley Scott Hints Third Movie Production Work

Will There Be a Gladiator III? Find Out as Ridley Scott Hints Third Movie Production Work

Published by Parlour News

Ridley Scott has confirmed that a third installment in the Gladiator series is in development, with a story concept heavily influenced by The Godfather trilogy. In an interview, Scott acknowledged drawing parallels between his planned narrative for Gladiator 3 and Francis Ford Coppola’s acclaimed mafia saga. He explained that the idea crystallized over a reflective weekend, during which he realized the thematic similarities between Lucius, the protagonist of Gladiator 3, and Michael Corleone from The Godfather. The film is expected to center on Lucius (played by Paul Mescal), who was introduced as a child in the original Gladiator. Now living a peaceful life in a remote Roman colony, Lucius is unwillingly pulled back into the violent and political intrigues of Rome, echoing Michael Corleone’s reluctant rise to power in The Godfather Part II. Scott revealed his fascination with characters who are burdened with inherited responsibilities, likening Lucius’ predicament to Michael’s struggle against his family’s criminal legacy. Scott hinted at a narrative filled with personal conflict, moral dilemmas, and historical intrigue. Although no specific plot details …

Was Russell Crowe Going To Be Part Of Gladiator II? Find Out As Director Ridley Scott Spills The Beans

Was Russell Crowe Going To Be Part Of Gladiator II? Find Out As Director Ridley Scott Spills The Beans

Published by Parlour News

Russell Crowe’s character, Maximus, from the original Gladiator, which was released in 2000, has been one of the most popular characters in the history of cinema. The actor won hearts with his performance in the film and went on to win the Oscar award in the category of Best Actor. Although his character died in the first film, Crowe planned on entertaining the audience with the reincarnation of Maximus. The actor took his fun idea to Ridley Scott, asking him to cast the New Zealand native in the sequel as well. In a conversation with People magazine, the director of Gladiator II revealed that Crowe had approached him with the idea and claimed that he wanted to be a part of the film. Scott recalled, “Russell and I had a go at it around 18 years ago.” He further added, “I had Nick Cave writing the script, and I kept saying [to Russell], ‘But you’re dead.’ And he said, ‘I know I’m dead. And I want to come back from the dead.’” Previously, a 2018 …

Wicked and Gladiator II make jaw-dropping 0 million box office debut, but can Glicked beat Barbenheimer? | Hollywood

Wicked and Gladiator II make jaw-dropping $270 million box office debut, but can Glicked beat Barbenheimer? | Hollywood

Published by Parlour News

The signs were there, and the films have delivered. Glicked, the word used to describe the joint global release of musical adaptation Wicked and action epic Gladiator II, has opened to a gravity-defying performance at the box office. The two films have collected over $270 million worldwide in the opening weekend, reminding many of Barbie and Oppenheimer’s joint run last year. (Also read: Is Glicked the new Barbenheimer? Wicked, Gladiator II hope to replicate Barbie and Oppenheimer’s collaborative success) Gladiator II and Wicked collectively grossed over $270 million worldwide Gladiator II and Wicked box office collection By Sunday, the two films racked up a combined $270.2 million in global ticket sales over the weekend, a gift to cinemas heading into what may be a record-setting holiday season. The robust box office returns provided reassurance to Hollywood, which has weathered cost-cutting and layoffs amid forecasts of the death of cinema as consumers gravitated to streaming video services. Wicked, the first of two Universal Pictures films based on a Broadway prequel to The Wizard of Oz, topped …

‘Wicked,’ ‘Gladiator II’ bring in 0.2 million in global box office | Hollywood

‘Wicked,’ ‘Gladiator II’ bring in $270.2 million in global box office | Hollywood

Published by Parlour News

By Lisa Richwine and Dawn Chmielewski ‘Wicked,’ ‘Gladiator II’ bring in $270.2 million in global box office -The musical adaptation “Wicked” and action epic “Gladiator II” racked up a combined $270.2 million in global ticket sales over the weekend, a gift to cinemas heading into what may be a record-setting holiday season. The robust box office returns provided reassurance to Hollywood, which has weathered cost-cutting and layoffs amid forecasts of the death of cinema as consumers gravitated to streaming video services. “Moviegoers and box office pundits have been waiting for this weekend, and no one is disappointed,” said Chris Aronson, president of distribution for Paramount Pictures. “Wicked,” the first of two Universal Pictures films based on a Broadway prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” topped the domestic and global box office. It pulled in $114 million at U.S. and Canadian theaters, plus $50.2 million in international markets, for a global total of $164.2 million. It was the biggest opening weekend for a film based on a Broadway musical, ahead of the global debut of Universal’s …