The music of Gladiator is on the way.
Decca Records US announced exclusively via Billboard on Friday (Oct. 4) that the soundtrack to Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel is arriving on November 15, 2024. Gladiator II: Music From The Motion Picture features music by composer Harry Gregson-Williams and includes an orchestral score, comprised of over 100 musicians and singers from across the globe to accompany the Gladiator II film.
The soundtrack also includes lead single “Strength and Honor,” out now, as well as the timeless hit song “Now We Are Free” composed by Hans Zimmer for the original Gladiator film almost 25 years ago.
“My approach to the score for Gladiator II was to create music that embodied 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),” Gregson-Williams shared in a press statement. “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. Beyond the large orchestra and choirs that this epic tale called for, I felt the need to employ some unique instrumentation to help shape the storytelling. Whether it was the sliding, discomforting strings of a baritone violin or electric cello to represent Macrinus’ scheming and plotting, or the primitive horns that helped place us back in Ancient Rome, special instrumentation helped bring a sense of uniqueness to these characters and places. From specially recorded vocals representing the Numidian fighters, to the esoteric and otherwordly vocals of Lisa Gerrard, all of these different unique sounds and colors were necessary to tell Lucius’ story.”
Gladiator II marks the seventh collaboration between Gregson-Williams and Ridley Scott with Gregson-Williams writing original scores for The Martian, Kingdom of Heaven, The Last Duel and House of Gucci and themes for Prometheus and Exodus: Gods and Kings.
The upcoming sequel takes place years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus, and follows Lucius (Paul Mescal) as he “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 honor to return the glory of Rome to its people,” per the film’s description. The movie also stars Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington.
The full Gladiator II: Music From The Motion Picture album is out on Nov. 15. Gladiator II hits theaters a week later on Nov. 22.
