Production is underway for the upcoming Gladiator sequel as the set is currently being built in Malta.
Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington are leading the film which serves as a sequel to Ridley Scott’s 2000 film Gladiator, which was a critical and commercial hit.
The construction
Outdoor sets are being constructed near the shore at Fort Ricasoli in order to bring the ancient world to life for the flick.
A large stone archway has been built on the set with the engraving ‘Haec est gloria romae in mvndo’ which means ‘This is the glory of Rome in the world’.
Scaffolding surrounds the archway while several small, ancient-looking walls are seen in the foreground.
More images
Another image shows a large wooden structure nearby with two white stone pillars in the front.
Several studio lights could be seen placed around what appears to be an amphitheatre where the gladiatorial face offs will take place.
Chaos
It comes after filming was thrown into chaos after crew members were reportedly injured in an explosion.
The highly anticipated sequel had been shooting in Morocco and the neighboring Sahara desert.
There are still few details available about the incident, but it appears to have been a special effects shot that went wrong, causing the dangerous explosion.
One on-set source shared their hopes that the injured crew members would make a full recovery, though their condition is unclear.
‘It was terrifying — a huge ball of fire flew up and caught several crew members in its path,’ the source recalled.
‘In years of filming I’ve never seen an accident so scary.’
Investigating the explosion
The explosion is reportedly being investigated, and witnesses to the explosion have reportedly speculated that it may have been caused by a gas pipe rupture on set.
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‘Six production staff had to be rushed to hospital for treatment,’ they said, and it appears that no actors on the film were injured in the inferno.
‘Hopefully everyone will be OK, but it was a serious accident,’ the source added.
‘Everyone involved, from the lowliest runners to the star names, has been shaken up by this.’
The original historical epic grossed five times its budget, and it helped cement the stardom of Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix.
Gladiator won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe.
