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Film is so back. Shooting on Kodak film continues to be both a more popular choice among filmmakers and to gather more Oscar prestige. At this year’s Academy Awards Sean Baker’s Best Picture winner, “Anora,” was shot on 35mm by cinematographer Drew Daniels; Brady Corbet’s Best Cinematography winner, “The Brutalist,” was shot on 35mm VistaVision to great aplomb by Dp Lol Crawley; Walter Salles’ Best International Feature Film winner, “I’m Still Here,” was shot on both 35mm and S8mm by cinematographer Adrian Teijido; and the Best Live Action Short winner, “I’m Not a Robot,” was also shot on 35mm.

This year looks set to build on that success. There will be a cohort of prominent movies captured on film from some of the usual analog-loving directors: Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” Luca Guadagnino’s “After the Hunt,” Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme,” Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Bugonia,” Josh Safdie’s “Marty Supreme,...

Universal has unveiled the trailer for “Jurassic World Rebirth.” This feature will mark the seventh film in the 31-year-old cinematic franchise.

The official synopsis for “Jurassic World Rebirth” reads: “Five years post-‘Jurassic World Dominion,’ an expedition braves isolated equatorial regions to extract DNA from three massive prehistoric creatures for a groundbreaking medical breakthrough.”

Scarlett Johansson plays Zora Bennett, a covert operations expert hired to lead an expedition to secure genetic material from three dinosaurs. The cast also includes Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, Ed Skrein, Mahershala Ali, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Luna Blaise, Philippine Velge, David Iacono, Audrina Miranda and Bechir Sylvain.

Bailey plays paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis; Ali plays Duncan Kincaid, Zora’s partner; and Friend plays Martin Krebs, a representative for the drug corporation financing the mission. Velge, Sylvain and Skrein are said to play team members reporting to Zora.

The film is directed by Gareth Edwards from a script...

No doubt Ridley Scott has given us some of the most memorable images in cinema history. We think of films like Alien, Blade Runner, The Duellists, and so many more. One that can’t possibly be left off is 2000’s Gladiator, shot by John Mathieson in their first of many pairings. And it’s actually that film that Mel Gibson comes back to as the one that left the greatest impact on his own style.

Appearing on The Joe Rogan Experience (via IndieWire), Mel Gibson did the best he could in explaining why Gladiator is a reference point for him. “I always like to reference just a shot, it’s in a Scott movie and you don’t know why it works or why it’s effective on some level, but it’s kind of a profound, effective shot. It’s that first shot in Gladiator where he’s running his hand over the wheat,...

Turns out Christopher Nolan wasn’t any less entertained by Gladiator II. In fact, he picked the sequel as his favorite film of 2024 in a new Variety feature, praising Ridley Scott for “once again showing us who we are simply by inviting us to enjoy the crazy inflationary ride.”

Beginning his written breakdown, Nolan hearkened back to the original and explained part of its greatness was Scott knowing “we’re there to see our own dark desires at a comfortable remove” without “making parallels with our time.”

“Why are there sharks in the Colosseum? Because we demand them, and Scott masterfully gives them to us,” Nolan wrote about Gladiator II, which he believes succeeded by once again putting a mirror to society: “As he reveals how the games are used to manipulate public opinion, we can’t help but see shadows of our own public arena projected onto the sand.

Gladiator II star Paul Mescal reveals that camera operators would dress up as Roman soldiers due to Ridley Scott's filming strategy. Coming 24 years after the beloved original Gladiator, Scott's sequel follows Mescal's Lucius as he becomes a hero of the Colosseum. Gladiator 2 reviews were generally positive from critics, with praise aimed at the movie's action sequences and epic scope, and it's now been revealed that Scott used an abundance of cameras to capture it all.

During THR's Actor Roundtable, Mescal speaks about Scott's filming strategy on Gladiator 2, recalling just how many cameras the director used for different scenes. Though a more intimate scene may use five or six, the Lucius actor reveals that Scott would have a dozen cameras going for more involved fight sequences. Getting this many cameras into a shot required some cleverness, and Mescal recalls camera operators wearing Roman soldier gear to blend in.

After 25 years, Sr. Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning classic Gladiator returns to the big screen with a thrilling sequel. Gladiator 2 picks up the story and follows Lucius 16 years after the original events. But that’s not the only exciting return: The project’s Dit is no stranger to the Pomfort blog, as we already interviewed Gastone Ferrante a few years ago. Now, we caught up with him again over his involvement in this massive production.

To let the Gladiator shine in his battles on screen, Gastone and his team wrestled their own challenges behind the scenes. Think demanding filming conditions in Morocco and Malta, complex workflows with up to 12 (!) cameras, VFX-heavy scenes, and custom-built setups to make it all work. So, let’s step into the ring with Gastone to learn all about his experiences!

Dit Gastone Ferrante with his rig on set in Morocco

Gastone mainly works on major motion pictures,...

Several directors of photography are in Oscar contention this year after reteaming with a director they had worked with previously. Some lensed $100 million-plus epics, while others shot films with tighter budgets. Whatever their situation, six of this year’s leading DPs gathered on Zoom in October for THR’s annual Cinematographer Roundtable to discuss their paths into the profession, their stance on VFX and the biggest challenges they faced on their projects this year.

The six roundtablists were Maria’s Ed Lachman, who previously worked with Pablo Larraín on El Conde; Gladiator II’s John Mathieson, who lensed the first movie as well as others from Ridley Scott’s filmography; Wicked’s Alice Brooks, whose collaborations with director Jon M. Chu include In the Heights; Emilia Pérez’s Paul Guilhaume, who shot Jacques Audiard’s Paris, 13th District; Dune: Part Two’s Greig Fraser, who, of course, also shot...

Everybody knew it had to be big. More than two decades after having a huge hit and winning Best Picture with “Gladiator,” Ridley Scott was not going to be low-key in the opening sequences of his long-awaited sequel “Gladiator II.”

“I crept in the back of Ridley’s media room, and he was deep in conversation with Neil Corbould,” cinematographer John Mathieson said. “They were discussing doing a sea battle in the Sahara.”

He paused for a second. “Which is not known for its coastal regions. There were some bottles of Ridley’s rosé there, which I have to recommend as a very drinkable rosé. And I thought, well, I’d best be quiet and sit here.”

And yes, that’s exactly what the opening stretch of “Gladiator II” is: a siege by the Roman army in the North African province of Numidia, home to Lucius Aurelius (Paul Mescal), who...

Daniel Craig celebrated his third Golden Globes nomination last night by going to work, taking the stage at London’s Southbank for an extended Q&a with critic Mark Kermode. The occasion was to publicize the release of Luca Guadagnino’s extraordinary film Queer, an adaptation of Beat writer William S. Burroughs’ early memoir set in the gay subculture of 1950s Mexico City. Craig plays William Lee, a pseudonym Burroughs used to protect his parents from the then-scandalous aspects of his writing (homosexuality and hard drugs), but Guadagnino’s adaptation infuses the writer’s lean, skeletal prose with a romantic yearning that always existed in Burroughs’ heart if not on his pages.

“The original story is not told with that much lyricism,” said Craig. “That’s down to Luca. We decided very early on to get under this character’s skin and find out what he was about — the yearning,...

Angel Studios, the prolific faith-based production company, presents Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. Written and directed by Todd Komarnicki, this ambitious film delves into the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor and anti-Nazi dissident who defied Hitler’s tyranny.

Last month we had the pleasure of speaking to director Todd Komarnicki about his film and about the importance of speaking out against the rise of the far right globally. Komarnicki spoke about his admiration for Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Germain pastor who bravely spoke about Hitler’s hold over the church which led him to want to be part of an assassination attempt against the Führer.

Elsewhere, cinematographer and long time Ridley Scott collaborator John Mathieson talked about his craft, his fascination with the film’s subject matter and why he wanted to work on this extraordinary film. Both interviewees also spoke about their fears of what’s to come after the latest American presidential elections.

“Gladiator II is my 29th film and I’ve hardly thought about it since I made it,” states Ridley Scott, ahead of awards season.

Ridley Scott is the epitome of ‘move fast and break things’ culture. He’s 87 years old and clearly doesn’t feel he has time to waste on things that aren’t important. Like the giant blockbuster film that he’s just made, for example.

While Scott’s Gladiator II has been met with a mixed response so far (here’s our review), even those that weren’t that keen on it found plenty in there to be engaged by. Not so Ridley Scott, who’s moved on pretty quickly, it seems.

In a carefully crafted letter to Critic’s Choice members, where he was given the opportunity to hone a finely-worded communique that explained all of the care and artistry he and his collaborators poured into the film,...

It appears Ridley Scott may be on the, uh, outs with his longtime Dp John Mathieson. The two collaborated on six films, including “Gladiator,” “Matchstick Men,” “Kingdom of Heaven,” and most recently “Gladiator II,” but in a recent interview on “The DocFix Documentary Storytelling Podcast,” Mathieson voiced his concerns over the director’s use of multiple cameras and CGI and how his process neglects the nuances of cinematography.

“It’s really lazy,” said Mathieson. “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.’”

Scott now favors using multiple cameras, a fact Mathieson puts on Scott being “quite impatient” and caring more about performance than look.

“It’s not very good for cinematography,” he said, adding later, “Look at his older films and getting...

Directors tend to use the same cinematographers throughout their career. And while Ridley Scott only began working with Dp John Mathieson with 2000’s Gladiator, the two have had enough collaborations for Mathieson to know just how Scott operates. And apparently that’s not always for the better.

But first, some context. John Mathieson says that a two-hour interview he did – most of which wasn’t even about Gladiator II, as it was eight months from release – was cut down to just 30 minutes, leaving plenty of room for interpretation and out of context comments about both the film and Ridley Scott.

The most damning found Mathieson saying that Ridley Scott has grown lazy in his age, relying on post-production to handle any sloppy work he employed on the set of Gladiator II. “It’s really lazy…It’s the CG elements now of tidying-up, leaving things in shot, cameras in shot,...

Exclusive: A serious case of Thanksgiving indigestion was caused yesterday by caustic comments attributed to Gladiator II cinematographer John Mathieson against the film’s director Ridley Scott on The DocFix Documentary Storytelling Podcast. Today, both the Dp and the podcaster are each eating a bit of crow here on Deadline. Mathieson regrets an interview about his illustrious career done last March whose edit made him seem to savage his director, when a two-hour interview got condensed to 30 minutes. It made it appear Mathieson leveled disparaging comments about Scott, when he was actually talking about the industry in general, but it sounded like he said the director took a “lazy” approach to the epic sequel they did together that has been critically acclaimed and has so far grossed over $300 million worldwide and might finally get Scott that elusive Best Director Oscar.

Mathieson was Scott’s Dp on the first Gladiator, as...

Ridley Scott's bombastic "Gladiator II" has been slicing its way through the box office thank to its incredible cast and people's love for the original film, although critics have been slightly less enamored with the sequel. Our own "Gladiator II" review praised Denzel Washington's performance as gladiator promoter Macrinus in particular and noted that there are a number of impressive action scenes, but also several parts that fall flat. No amount of pure spectacle can make up for a good story or thoughtful filmmaking, and unfortunately, it sounds like Scott might have had the wrong priorities during production.

In a podcast interview with "DocFix" (via WorldofReel), "Gladiator II" cinematographer John Mathieson called Scott's approach to the film "lazy," adding that he had changed over the years that they had worked together. Mathieson has collaborated with Scott on six of the director's films so far, including the original "Gladiator...

A lot has changed with filmmaking in recent years. With the ubiquitous nature of CGI, you can do things now that were thought to be impossible years ago. And apparently, that has changed the way some filmmakers do things, such as Ridley Scott.

In a recent episode of the “DocFix” podcast (via World of Reel), cinematographer John Mathieson talked about his recent work as Dp on Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.” During the conversation, it was evident the longtime collaborator with Scott had a lot to say about how the process of working on this film was different than working with Scott in the past.

Continue reading ‘Gladiator II’ Cinematographer John Mathieson Criticizes Ridley Scott’s “Lazy” Approach To Filmmaking at The Playlist.

Ridley Scott’s longtime cinematographer says the 87-year-old filmmaker has become “lazy” and sacrifices quality for the sake of expediency.

In an interview with DocFix (via World of Reel), John Mathieson discussed his experience working on Gladiator II. The two previously worked together on films like Matchstick Men and Kingdom of Heaven, and compared to those productions, Mathieson said he found Scott’s work on Gladiator II to be “really lazy” and “quiet impatient.”

Mathieson specifically took issue with Scott’s use of a multi-camera setup, instead of relying on just one lens, which he said resulted in less attention to detail. “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,” Mathieson explained. “And they just said [on Gladiator II], ‘Well, clean it up.’”

“[Scott] is quite impatient so he likes to get as much as he can at once,...

A precious Christmas gift is coming for Denzel Washington fans as one of the legendary actor's best movies finds a new streaming home. Though fans can stuff their proverbial stockings by checking out The Equalizer franchise, a caveat may put Amazon Prime Video on some naughty lists this holiday season.

Prime Video confirmed that The Equalizer 2 will debut on Dec. 25, affording audiences another opportunity to view Washington in his only career franchise. Frustratingly, the original The Equalizer and The Equalizer 3 won't be available to watch along with the first sequel. The former is now on Paramount+, while the threequel is on Max after becoming a Netflix hit earlier this year.

Related 'I Got Bitter': Denzel Washington Admits Resentment Over Losing Oscar to Kevin Spacey

Hollywood legend Denzel Washington shares his honest emotions after missing out on what would've been his first Best Actor Oscar.

The Equalizer 2 marks...

Gladiator II keeps getting early plaudits for director Ridley Scott following its premiere earlier this month. However, one of Scott's collaborators isn't one of the people showering him with praise, slamming the legendary director for his "really lazy" approach to the historical epic.

Speaking on The DocFix Documentary Storytelling Podcast (via ActioNewz.com), Gladiator II cinematographer John Mathieson delved into his collaboration with Scott for the long-awaited sequel. Mathieson, who previously worked with Scott on Hannibal and Kingdom of Heaven, laid into the Gladiator franchise helmer, claiming he was too "impatient," negatively affecting the filming process and presentation.

Related Gladiator Fans Have Even More to Look Forward to in December

Ridley Scott's Gladiator II just arrived in theaters, but more exciting news for Gladiator fans will be arriving this December.

"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,...

Gladiator II cinematographer John Mathieson slams Ridley Scott's new "lazy" filmmaking style after 24 years of collaboration. Serving as a follow-up to 2000's Gladiator, Scott's sequel follows Maximus' son, Lucius (Paul Mescal), as he becomes a hero of the Colosseum. Reviews for Gladiator 2 haven't been as glowing as those for the original, and, in fact, the lukewarm reception is similar to many of Scott's recent movies.

During a recent interview on The DocFix Documentary Storytelling Podcast (via ActioNewz), Mathieson criticizes Scott's filming process on Gladiator 2 as "really lazy." According to the Dp, Scott, unlike with many of his earlier movies, prefers to now uses many cameras to capture scenes, which means he "can only light from one angle." Scott's reliance on CGI to remove unwanted elements of a shot has also increased, says Mathieson. Check out the cinematographer's additional comments below:

"It’s the CG [computer graphic] elements now of tidying-up,...

Gladiator was always going to be a hard act to follow; after all, it won multiple Oscars shortly after being released in 2000 and has become widely regarded as a true classic among film lovers.

Filmmaker Sir Ridley Scott returned to helm Gladiator II and reviews have been positive; the sequel probably won't be an awards contender but it is a fan-pleasing action flick. However, cinematographer John Mathieson doesn't have anything good to say about his reunion with Scott.

They worked together on Gladiator, along with several of Scott's other movies, including Hannibal, Matchstick Men, Kingdom of Heaven, and Robin Hood.

However, talking on The DocFix Documentary Storytelling Podcast (via ActioNewz.com), Mathieson shared his disappointment with what he saw from Scott during their Gladiator II collaboration.

Explaining that Scott now shoots scenes with multiple cameras, he called the filmmaker's process "really lazy," adding, "It’s the CG [computer graphic] elements now of tidying-up,...

There's a battle erupting in Gladiator II, and it's not just in the Colosseum. Long-time Ridley Scott collaborator, John Mathieson, has labeled the acclaimed filmmaker a "lazy" director following their work together on the long-awaited sequel. Mathieson has been the cinematographer on six of Scott's movies, including the new legacy sequel. The news may come as a shock to many who consider Scott to be one of the greatest filmmakers still working. But, from the cinematographer's point of view, Ridley Scott has reportedly become a nightmare. Appearing on the DocFix podcast, John Mathieson criticized Scott's coverage style of filmmaking, and said the director has now adopted the "lazy" fix it in post attitude that is an editor's worst nightmare.

"It’s really lazy. It’s the CG elements now of tidying-up, leaving things in shot, cameras in shot, microphones in shot, bits of set hanging down, shadows from booms."

According to Mathieson,...

Someone isn’t happy with Ridley Scott’s late-period evolution as a filmmaker – but crikey, it’s his Gladiator II cinematographer.

Given his penchant for speaking his mind, we’re not entirely surprised to learn that Ridley Scott has upset somebody. However, it is somewhat eyebrow raising to discover that the person criticising the Gladiator II director is cinematographer John Mathieson, a long-time collaborator of Scott’s. The director of photography even shot Scott’s current film, Gladiator II, and that movie seems to be part of the problem.

In fact, Mathieson has worked with Scott on both Gladiator films, not to mention Hannibal, Robin Hood, Matchstick Men and Kingdom Of Heaven. It’s probably safe to assume that their creative partnership has reached its end considering the broadside that the cinematographer has launched at Scott’s late-period style of working. This came on the DocFix podcast, and was reported by World Of Reel.

In a new podcast interview with DocFix, John Mathieson, the cinematographer for ‘Gladiator 2,’ expressed strong reservations about Ridley Scott’s recent approach to filmmaking.

Mathieson, who has previously worked with Scott on multiple projects including ‘Gladiator’ and ‘Kingdom of Heaven,’ shared that Scott’s method has significantly shifted, impacting the quality of his films.

According to Mathieson, Scott, at 87, has adopted a more hurried style, frequently using multiple cameras on set which, in his view, compromises the cinematic quality.

He described this technique as detrimental to meticulous cinematography since it restricts lighting options and reduces attention to detail.

Mathieson lamented the loss of depth in scenes, a quality he feels was a hallmark of Scott’s earlier works.

"It's a bit rush rush rush … that's changed in him … I don't like [that style]. I don't think many people do. But people love his films, and he's Ridley Scott … he can do...

‘Gladiator II’ is a sequel to the original movie, directed and co-produced by Ridley Scott. The cast includes Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington.

The movie follows Lucius, the son of Maximus and Lucilla, who becomes a gladiator after his home is invaded by the Roman army and seeks revenge against Marcus Acacius while fighting for Macrinus, a former slave who wants to overthrow the emperors Caracalla and Geta.

The movie was recently released to glowing reviews and is entertaining fans worldwide, despite some criticizing its historical accuracy.

One of the most “questioned” scenes in the movie was the shark battle in Colosseum, with one historian going as far as to call it “total Hollywood bullshit” claiming that Romans had no idea what the shark was and Ridley Scott defending it.

No matter whether you agree that the scene was historically accurate or not, you have to...

“Gladiator II” picks up 16 years after the first film ends. When director Ridley Scott was conceiving the original, the approach was, “Build the sets, fight real tigers, shoot real arrows,” says cinematographer John Mathieson. This time around, things had moved forward and the Colosseum was at its height. But also there had been huge improvements in technology, and processes were now faster, easier and 3D printing technology had since evolved.

Scott went bigger on his second “Gladiator” outing with rhino showdowns, baboon fights and shark attacks during a mock naval battle.

Mathieson says that Scott really embraces CGI: “He loves it. He feels much more comfortable. He’s good at it. He composed these amazing scenes with his supervisors. Look at ‘Napoleon.’ That was a big difference for us.”

The shark battle might be one of the most entertaining sequences in the film. After Lucius’ (Paul Mescal) town comes under attack by Roman soldiers,...

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Gladiator II.

Gladiator II director Ridley Scott and his creative team explain their ideas about the backstory and motivations of Macrinus (Denzel Washington). As a former slave and gladiator, Macrinus is now a power broker and arms dealer who has become one of the most influential characters in Ancient Rome. From Lucius Verus Aurelius (Paul Mescal) to Emperor Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Emperor Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), Macrinus is intent on manipulating all of Gladiator II's characters in order to satisfy his ambition to rule Rome.

While speaking with Variety, Scott discussed how Macrinus had been a prisoner of war until "he earned his way out as a good gladiator" and secured his freedom through "getting a job as a supplier to the armies of Rome." Cinematographer John Mathieson explained how Macrinus' visual aesthetic and his personality tie into this backstory. Production designer Arthur Max...

An epic movie deserves an epic Q&a, and on Friday, November 15 director Ridley Scott was joined by 16 of his collaborators at the Paramount Theater in Hollywood to discuss the making of “Gladiator II” in front of a packed house of fellow filmmakers.

The panel, moderated by yours truly, consisted of Scott, cinematographer John Mathieson, costume designer Janty Yates, military costume designer Dave Crossman, production designer Arthur Max, editors Claire Simpson and Sam Restivo, hair dept head Giuliano Mariano, make-up dept head Jana Carboni, composer Harry Gregson-Williams, visual effects supervisor Mark Bakowski, supervising sound editor Danny Sheehan, supervising sound editor/re-recording mixer Matthew Collinge, production sound mixer Stéphane Bucher, and casting director Kate Rhodes James.

When asked what characteristics he looks for when assembling a team of department heads, Scott was clear and to the point. “First, stamina,” he said. “Then, talent.” He said that he discovered “Gladiator II” lead...

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Gladiator II is the follow-up to Sir Ridley Scott's award-winning film Gladiator starring Russell Crowe. Twenty-four years later, Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal starring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington as Macrinus, and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Connie Neilsen also returns to reprise the role of Lucilla.

The epic return to the Roman Empire is already on its way to becoming a box-office success. Opening weekend projections range from $60 million to $80 million, and that is just domestically. Director Sir Ridley Scott has declared that he has plans for Gladiator 3. In the meantime, Gladiator II is releasing in U.S. theaters on November 22.

Related Gladiator 2 Cast, Character & Cameo Guide

Gladiator 2's casts includes legendary actors and up-and-coming stars, continuing the story established by Ridley Scott's 2000 epic, Gladiator.

Screen Rant interviewed stars Connie Nielsen and Peter Mensah,...

Plot: Sixteen years after the death of Maximus in the Coliseum, the now-grown Lucius (Paul Mescal), who is secretly the heir to the Roman Empire, finds himself enslaved and forced to fight in the Coliseum while Rome crumbles under the leadership of two tyrannical brothers, Emperor Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Emperor Caracalla (Fred Hechinger).

Review: In my estimation, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator is one of the best historical dramas ever made. When it came out in 2000, it was immediately hailed as a classic, making star Russell Crowe a household name. In the twenty-four years since its release, it’s been often imitated but never equaled. Now, Ridley Scott is back for a lavish sequel, which is being rightly acclaimed as one of his best films in the last twenty years.

While Gladiator II isn’t the instant classic the original was, it’s nonetheless a highly entertaining, faithful sequel, jam-packed with action and spectacle.

While many “Deadpool & Wolverine” quips have become fan favorites, like Gambit’s “I’m boutta’ make a name for myself here,” star and screenwriter Ryan Reynolds has a more sentimental take on which lines were his favorite to write.

“The thing I’m probably most proud of was the Wolverine speech in the van where he just tears Deadpool a new one,” said Reynolds. “To me, it’s one of the most beautiful scenes in the movie because you see what a raw, visceral, powerhouse of an actor Hugh Jackman is. But you also see the roles reversed. You see a character who is never verbose, who is a Clint Eastwood archetype, suddenly going, ‘Oh yeah, man? Well, I can talk too.'”

Reynolds was one of the 25 people honored at Hamilton’s 13th annual Behind the Camera Awards, presented by Variety, which celebrates and recognizes the work of below-the-line filmmakers.

Epic sandworm rides across the desert of Arrakis, a thrilling gladiator battle involving a rhino and a display of the unmitigated feeling of pure Anxiety —those are just a few scenes and characters that have entertained audiences this past year, none of which would be possible without the artisans who make the magic happen behind the scenes.

This year, the Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards Presented by Variety will celebrate the visionary artists who help tell stories through their crafts. “Since we introduced the award in 2006, we have been highlighting the tremendous work happening behind the scenes and all the passionate people who

bring these films to life,” says Hamilton CEO Vivian Stauffer.

“We are honored to present the Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards,” says Variety chief operating and marketing officer Dea Lawrence. “The people working behind the scenes are crucial to film production, and this event will shine a well-deserved spotlight on them.

There’s nothing quite like starting a new millennium with a historical epic that would leave an undeniable cultural and artistic impact. Gladiator is regarded by many as the magnum opus of Ridley Scott’s career – a claim that’s challenging to make without any doubts given the filmmaker’s other classics like Blade Runner, Alien, Thelma & Louise, and countless other memorable movies. Personally, I count myself among those who hail this masterpiece as such, and as someone who dismisses the negative opinions about the “necessity” of new releases based on past works, I was genuinely excited going into Gladiator II.

The sequel is set several years after the death of Maximus (Russell Crowe), following Lucius (Paul Mescal) on his journey to the Colosseum after powerful emperors conquered his city. Filled with rage and holding the fate of the empire in his hands, Lucius draws inspiration from the past...

Paramount Pictures has unwrapped a host of character posters for Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel ‘Gladiator II’.

The sequel continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honour to return the glory of Rome to its people.

The movie stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, with Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington.

Also in news – Hugh Jackman & Kate Hudson to team on musical ‘Song Sung Blue’

Based on characters by David Franzoni, Scott...

At six of the last 11 Oscars, Best Cinematography has gone hand-in-hand with Best Director: Emmanuel Lubezki and Alfonso Cuaron for “Gravity” (2014); Lubezki and Alejandro G. Inarritu for both “Birdman” (2015) and “The Revenant” (2016); Linus Sandgren and Damien Chazelle for “La La Land” (2017); Cuaron doing double duty on “Roma” (2019) and Hoyte van Hoytema and Christopher Nolan for “Oppenheimer” (2024). Will that trend hold true this year? (Scroll down for the most up-to-date 2025 Oscar predictions for Best Cinematography.)

The academy usually regards award-winning cinematography as pretty pictures within an epic technical feat of filmmaking. While great lighting and framing are laudable on their own, having a movie that looks like it was difficult to shoot goes a long way to snagging an Oscar. Recent lensing winners “Avatar” (2009), “Inception” (2010), “Hugo” (2011), “Life of Pi” (2012), “Gravity” (2013), “Blade Runner 2049” (2018) and “1917” (2020) also took home the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.

While the lensers of “Oppenheimer,” “Inception” and...

Paramount Pictures has unleashed a new trailer for Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel ‘Gladiator II’.

The sequel continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honour to return the glory of Rome to its people.

The movie stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, with Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington.

Based on characters by David Franzoni, Scott is returning to direct and produce the feature. David Scarpa has penned the script for the sequel,...

When Ridley Scott took his curious side route back into the "Alien" universe with 2012's "Prometheus," the oft-discussed notion of a "Gladiator" sequel started to feel not so far fetched. If the filmmaker was open to revisiting the enormously influential sci-fi horror masterpiece that transformed him overnight into one of Hollywood's most celebrated (and imitated) directors, why not step back into the arena for another Roman Empire throwdown? The film's enduring popularity on cable and streaming outlets meant even the cash-strapped Paramount would give him all the money in the world to spend as he saw fit. As for critics and awards voters, they've a long history of embracing sequels provided they're not desperate cash grabs. When you can line up a cast that includes Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal and two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington, you're going to be taken very seriously.

Though Russell Crowe, who won the Best...

Paramount Pictures has debuted the first trailer for Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel ‘Gladiator II’.

The sequel continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honour to return the glory of Rome to its people.

The movie stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, with Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington.

Based on characters by David Franzoni, Scott is returning to direct and produce the feature. David Scarpa has penned the script for the sequel,...

A set of first-look images has been released for Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated ‘Gladiator’ sequel.

In the sequel, Paul Mescal will play Lucius, the son of Maximus’ lover Lucilla (played by Connie Nielsen). Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi,

with Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington also star.

Paul Mescal plays Lucius. Credit Paramount Pictures.Paul Mescal plays Lucius. Credit Paramount Pictures. Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius. Credit Paramount Pictures. Paul Mescal plays Lucius and Alexander Karim plays Ravi. Credit Paramount Pictures. Paul Mescal plays Lucius. Credit Paramount Pictures.

Based on characters by David Franzoni, Scott is returning to direct and produce the feature. David Scarpa has penned the script for the sequel, which Michael Pruss via Scott Free and Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher via Red Wagon Entertainment will produce alongside Scott. Executive producers are Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald. Also returning from the original film are cinematographer John Mathieson,...

Universal Pictures’ “Jurassic World 4” movie is set to make use of locations in Thailand as well as studios in Malta and the U.K.

The Gareth Edwards-directed picture, produced by Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley, is expected to star Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Mahershala Ali, Rupert Friend, Luna Blaise and David Iacono.

The “Jurassic Park” franchise kicked off with the eponymous Spielberg-directed film in 1993 and spawned two more in 1997 and 2001. It also led to the three-film “Jurassic World” franchise from 2015.

With a script by David Koepp, the new movie is touted as “a completely fresh take launching a new Jurassic era, following three adults and three teens getting stuck on the Island.” The new film has also been labeled as “Jurassic World 4” and “Jurassic City.”

The month-long Thailand unit production was confirmed by the country’s Department of Tourism director general Jaturon Phakdeewanit.

Disney+ has released the first trailer for the upcoming short film “The Shepherd,” premiering on Dec. 1.

The story follows Ben Radcliffe as Freddie Hooke, a young Royal Air Force pilot flying home across the North Sea on Christmas Eve. He finds himself in peril when his radio and electricity cut out, leaving him stranded and running on limited fuel. John Travolta, who also executive produced the short, plays a mysterious, good Samaritan rescue pilot who appears at just the right moment.

Steven Mackintosh, Millie Kent, Simon Wilson, Iwan Bond, Claire Price, Simon Lennon, Jack Donoghue, Asan N’Jie, Olatunji Ayofe and Scarlet Grace also star.

Academy Award winner Alfonso Cuarón serves as the film’s producer, while Iain Softley writes and directs. Cuarón said in a statement, “John, Iain and myself have been long-time admirers of the beloved short novel by Frederick Forsyth. I am thrilled that we have been able...

Ridley Scott explains the 23-year gap between Gladiator and its sequel, revealing that the original sequel scripts were not up to par. Gladiator 2 will focus on Lucius, the son of Lucilla, as a grown adult years after the events of the first movie. Some original cast members will return, and new actors like Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal will join the cast, with a scheduled release in November 2024.

Gladiator 2 director Ridley Scott explains why the epic sequel took so long to move forward after the original movie. The 2000 epic movie Gladiator was a massive commercial and critical success, climbing up as the second highest-grossing film of the year behind Mission: Impossible II. It received immense acclaim during the 73rd Academy Awards, where it notably won Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe as the enslaved gladiator, Maximus.

In an interview with Total Film magazine (via GamesRadar), Scott...

The Marvel Cinematic Universe was shot on film for its first few installments. Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2 and Thor were all shot entirely on film. The switch to digital began in 2011 with Captain America: The First Avenger, which shot on a mix of film and digital. That continued with The Avengers. However, with Iron Man 3, and the start of Phase Two, the MCU switched to an entirely digital production pipeline (except for Eternals) -- and the films have not looked as good as a result.

To clarify, that's not to say digital is an inferior way to shoot movies. Nor does it mean less effort was placed into MCU films shot digitally. However, the movies in Phase One have a distinct visual flair that is lacking in later entries. But, despite the switch from film to digital being partly responsible for that, it's not as...

Gladiator 2 has continued to expand its star-studded cast with several new actors. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film will star Paul Mescal as Lucius, the young boy played originally by Spencer Treat Clark, and will be set about 30 years after the original Gladiator. While Crowe is not expected to return since his character died in the last movie, it has already been confirmed that Connie Nielsen will be reprising her role as Lucilla, Lucius' mother.

Deadline reports that May Calamawy, who played Layla El-Faouly in Marvel's Moon Knight, has been cast in Gladiator 2. Fred Hechinger (The White Lotus) is in negotiations to play Emperor Geta. Barry Keoghan was originally in talks for the role, but the actor ultimately dropped out of the project due to scheduling conflicts. Lior Raz, Peter Mensah, and Matt Lucas have also been cast in undisclosed roles, with Derek Jacobi set to return from the original Gladiator as Gracchus.

Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator” sequel has rounded out its cast with the additions of May Calamawy, Peter Mensah (“Avatar”) and Matt Lucas, as well as legacy cast member Derek Jacobi, who will reprise his role from the 2000 blockbuster.

“Kraven the Hunter” and “The White Lotus” star Fred Hechinger is now in talks to take on the role of Emperor Geta, after Oscar nominee Barry Keoghan dropped out of negotiations due to a scheduling conflict.

The new additions join a star-studded cast, led by Oscar nominee Paul Mescal and two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington, with “Stranger Things” breakout Joseph Quinn set to play Emperor Caracalla and Pedro Pascal in final negotiations for an undisclosed role.

Plots details for the film, which Paramount has dated the film for Nov. 22, 2024, are largely being kept under wraps.

“Gladiator” was a massive critical and commercial hit, grossing $460 million at the box office and winning five Academy Awards,...

Exclusive: Paramount’s sequel to the Oscar-winning hit Gladiator is rounding out its cast as sources tell Deadline the untitled pic has added May Calamawy, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Peter Mensah and Matt Lucas.

Also in talks to join the remaining cast is Fred Hechinger (The White Lotus), who is in negotiations to play Emperor Geta. Barry Keoghan was in negotiations to play the Geta character, but scheduling conflicts forced him to fall out of the project.

The newest cast members join the previously announced ensemble that includes Paul Mescal in the titular role, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn and Connie Nielsen. Like Nielsen, who will be reprising her role as Lucilla, Jacobi will also be one of the few legacy players returning from original, reprising his role as Gracchus. Ridley Scott is back to direct, with David Scarpa penning the script.

The new film follows the 2000 blockbuster Gladiator,...

Pedro Pascal is the latest big-name star to enter into final talks to join Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator’ sequel.

In the sequel, Paul Mescal will play Lucius, the son of Maximus’ lover Lucilla (played by Connie Nielsen). Barry Keoghan is in negotiations to play Emperor Geta. Denzel Washington is also in talks to join the cast.

Scott is returning to direct and produce the feature. David Scarpa is penning the script for the sequel, which Michael Pruss via Scott Free and Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher via Red Wagon Entertainment will produce alongside Scott. Executive producers are Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald. Also returning from the original film are cinematographer John Mathieson, production designer Arthur Max and costume designer Janty Yates.

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The original movie starred Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman soldier...

Pedro Pascal has joined Ridley Scott’s upcoming “Gladiator” sequel, TheWrap has confirmed.

The previously announced cast already includes recent Oscar nominee Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Barry Keoghan and Connie Nielsen, who returns from the first movie. “Stranger Things” breakout Joseph Quinn is also in negotiations.

Not much is known about the sequel to Scott’s 2000 Oscar-winning blockbuster, although it’s thought to follow Maximus’ son (played by Mescal). The original film, of course, followed Maximus (Russell Crowe), a man whose family was taken from him and who went from slave to gladiator to revolutionary. What a movie.

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Pascal is having a particularly great year, having anchored two of the most critically acclaimed (and popular) series on television — HBO’s videogame adaptation “The Last of Us” and Lucasfilm’s live-action “Star Wars” series “The Mandalorian” for Disney+.

In terms of movies,...

Pedro Pascal is the latest A-lister in talks to join Ridley Scott’s upcoming “Gladiator” sequel.

Pascal, who stars in both “The Mandalorian” and “The Last of Us,” is in final negotiations to board the Paramount movie, which already boasts a cast including Academy Award nominees Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan, as well as two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington.

The Paramount movie follows 2000’s blockbuster hit “Gladiator,” which was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won five, including best picture. It earned $460 million at the box office.

The original film starred Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman soldier forced into slavery who vows revenge against Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Since Maximus dies at the end of “Gladiator,” the yet-to-be-titled sequel focuses on Lucius (Mescal), the son of Lucilla.

Details of who Pascal will play are being kept under wraps. Keoghan is said to take the role of Emperor Geta,...

Exclusive: While a second season of HBO’s hit series The Last of Us is in the works, its star Pedro Pascal looks to have found the project he’ll shoot during the hiatus, and boy is it a big one. Sources tell Deadline that Pascal is in final negotiations to join the untitled Gladiator sequel for Paramount. He joins Paul Mescal, who will star as Lucius, as well as Barry Keoghan, Joseph Quinn, Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington. Ridley Scott is returning to direct.

Pascal’s role is unknown.

The new film follows the 2000 blockbuster Gladiator, which earned more than $460 million in worldwide box office and was nominated for 12 Oscars, winning five including Best Picture.

The role of Maximus, the Roman general-turned-gladiator, was a career-changer for Russell Crowe, not only delivering him the Best Actor Oscar but also launching him to the top of every leading-man list. Once it...