Director Ridley Scott chose to return to the Mediterranean island of Malta to film scenes for Gladiator II, starring Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington. Scott used Fort Ricasoli, in the entrance to Valletta’s Grand Harbour, as the setting for Rome, constructing makeshift Roman buildings and a replica of part of the Colosseum.
According to Time Out magazine, actor Denzel Washington says that Malta played such a key role in the production of both the original Gladiator and Gladiator II that it became ‘a character’ in the movie, with Scott aiming to incorporate as much of its history, architecture and weather as he could.
Malta has become accustomed to seeing major stars visiting the island. Recent Hollywood productions filmed on the island include Napolean, Jurassic World: Dominion, Games of Thrones, and World War Z. The 2024 Channel 5 TV series ‘The Wives’ starring Jo Joyner, Tamzin Outhwaite and Angela Griffin was also filmed on the island with locations in Golden Bay, Valletta and Mellieha. The stars were said to be impressed by Malta’s architecture, cuisine and culture.
Follow in the footsteps of the stars with your own visit to Malta. Call our team on 0800 412 5678 for more information and to book.
Learn more about holidays in Malta
