Amid ongoing discussions about Paramount’s future ownership, the studio delivered a remarkable presentation at the 2024 CineEurope trade show, captivating attendees with their cinematic lineup.
The highlight of Paramount’s showcase in Barcelona was undoubtedly “Gladiator 2,” Ridley Scott’s much-anticipated return to Ancient Rome nearly 25 years after the original film. A massive cardboard coliseum was constructed around the main auditorium, complete with stern-faced Roman legionnaires, setting the stage for an unforgettable experience. While CinemaCon in the U.S. offered the first glimpse of the sequel, CineEurope audiences were treated to extended footage featuring Paul Mescal, who stars in the lead role, alongside Pedro Pascal. The presentation also included an exclusive, unreleased trailer. The film, which also stars Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, and Djimon Hounsou, is set to release on November 15.
In a video message, Ridley Scott assured viewers that the sequel was “well worth the wait,” despite the nearly quarter-century gap since the original film. Mark Viane, Paramount’s president of international theatrical distribution, teased that “Gladiator 2” includes some of the “biggest action sequences ever put on film.”
Before the main presentation, Paramount set the tone with a humorous video made especially for CineEurope. The video featured Viane and his team dressed as Romans and gladiators, reenacting scenes from the original “Gladiator” with industry-specific jokes, even giving Variety a nod. In this playful version, Viane’s afterlife was not the Elysian Fields but a golf course.
Paramount’s presentation also included a preview of “Smile 2,” showing the shocking and bloody first five minutes of the horror sequel, which is scheduled for release on October 18. The original “Smile” was a surprise hit in 2022, grossing $217 million globally.
Additionally, the studio showcased two new extended scenes from the upcoming animated film “Transformers One,” set for a September release, this time in 3D. They also teased “Paw Patrol 3,” the fourth installment in the “Smurfs” franchise, which will feature several songs written by Rihanna, and offered an exclusive sneak peek at “Sonic 3.”
With a release date just days away, Paramount provided an extended scene from “A Quiet Place: Day One,” a prequel set before the events of the first two films in the franchise, which has grossed $638 million worldwide. Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn, who star in the film, introduced the footage via video, promising that it would keep audiences “on the edge of their seats.” “A Quiet Place: Day One” is set to launch in the U.S. on June 28.
