Is there really a sequel to Gladiator?
Yes, director Ridley Scott surprised many when he revealed he was bringing audiences a sequel to his phenomenally successful (indeed Oscar-winning) 2000 epic, Gladiator, about the general who became a slave.
Gladiator II, set years after the original story, finds Rome being ruled with an iron fist by tyrannical leaders and the grandson of a much-loved emperor forced to fight in the arena, not just for himself, but for his past and the future of Rome. The film, starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington, is released on 15 November.
Who has written the music for Gladiator II?
The score for Gladiator II has been written by British Hollywood composer Harry Gregson-Williams. The Trowbridge-born composer cut his teeth at Hans Zimmer’s Santa Monica studios, emerging with animated feature scores for the likes of Antz, Shrekand Chicken Run (both co-written with John Powell).
He has gone on to enjoy a long career in Hollywood and has written music for franchises like The Chronicles of Narnia, Shrek, The Meg and The Equalizer. He has also established a continuing working relationship with director Ridley Scott; indeed Gregso-Williams composed music for Scott’s films Kingdom of Heaven, The Martian, Alien prequel Prometheus, Exodus: Gods and Kings, The Last Duel and House of Gucci.
What is the music like in Gladiator II?
Harry Gregson-Williams picks up the baton from Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard, who composed the massively popular music for the original Gladiator. For the sequel, Gregson-Williams has dug deep into his toolbox of epic musical tools and engaged over 100 musicians and singers from across the globe to perform the music.
Composing the music for Gladiator II in Los Angeles, Gregson-Williams then travelled to Europe to record historical instruments and some great voices. In Spain he worked with Abraham Cupeiro, who performs the ancient Carnyx and Iberian Horn in the score, while elsewhere he worked with Gladiator’s original vocalist Lisa Gerrard, British soprano Grace Davidson and singers Lior Attar, Antonio Lizana, Ejigayehu ‘Gigi’ Shibabaw and Ayo Adeyemi. Instrumentalists featured in the score include Richard Harvey (ney and ancient flutes), Hugh Marsh (electric violin), Martin Tillman (electric cello), Hamid Saeidi (Kantele/Santur) and Loga Ramin Torkian (GuitarViol).
Together with large orchestral and choral forces (The Bach Choir no less), recorded in the UK, the instrumentalists and singers come together for what is set to be a truly epic original score.
Gregson-Williams says he was keen that his music for Gladiator II should ‘enbody the spiritual essence of the original film whilst creating a fresh sound for Lucius and the other leading characters we encounter (such as Acacius – strong and bold – and Macrinus – scheming and calculating). Thematically, Lucius needed a very versatile melody – he is the center of the film, and his love, leadership, rage and need for vengeance all had to be reflected in his music.’
Does Gladiator II feature the song ‘Now We Are Free’?
Yes, the moving elegy performed by Lisa Gerrard in Gladiator does make an appearance in the soundtrack for Gladiator II.
When is the soundtrack album for Gladiator II released?
Decca Records will release Gladiator II – Music from the Motion Picture on 15 November, the same day as the film's cinema release. It will be available on CD and to stream wherever you enjoy your music. A single, ‘Strength and Honor’ is out now.
