Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett have joined Anne Hathaway in the Colleen Hoover thriller adaptation Verity

Last month, it was announced that Anne Hathaway (The Devil Wears Prada) had signed on to play the title character in an adaptation of It Ends with Us author Colleen Hoover’s thriller novel Verity. Now, Deadline reports that she’s being joined in the cast by Dakota Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey) and Josh Hartnett (Trap).

Hathaway’s character is Verity Crawford, a famous author who is unable to finish her latest thriller novel after a car accident leaves her badly injured and incapacitated. So her husband Jeremy offers a struggling writer named Lowen a huge sum of money to complete the remaining books in the series. Lowen accepts the gig but uncovers dark secrets in the process — including an unfinished manuscript that hints at chilling admissions about Verity and her family’s past — leaving Lowen to determine if Verity is a gifted fictionist or deranged psychopath. Johnson will be playing struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh, with Hartnett as Verity’s husband, Jeremy Crawford.

The Verity novel has a great opening line: “I hear the crack of his skull before the spattering of blood reaches me.” When I read the book last year, I was shocked that it hadn’t been given some kind of screen adaptation yet, because the story seemed like it was crying out to be turned into a movie or limited series. It was also one of the horniest books I’ve ever paged through, as there’s so much sex to read about in Verity’s memoir / manuscript, even Lowen gets tired of it. It will be interesting to see how the screenplay adaptation has been handled so we don’t just get scene after scene of Johnson reading about Hathaway and Hartnett having sex.

The Verity adaptation is coming our way from Amazon MGM and director Michael Showalter, who previously worked with Hathaway on The Idea of You, another adaptation of a popular book that was packed with sex. Nick Antosca, whose credits include Hannibal, The Forest, Channel Zero, Brand New Cherry Flavor, Antlers, Candy, and A Friend of the Family, has written the latest version of the script. Older drafts of the screenplay were written by Hillary Seitz, Angela LaManna, and the duo of Will Honley and April Maguire.

Hathaway, Hoover, and Showalter are producing the movie through their companies Somewhere Pictures, Heartbones Entertainment, and Semi-Formal Productions. Antosca is producing for Eat the Cat, while Jordana Mollick of Semi-Formal and Stacey Sher of Shiny Penny are also producing. Lauren Levine of Heartbones will serve as executive producer. Verity is part of Semi-Formal’s first-look film deal with Amazon MGM.

Verity is described as being a “gothic, psychosexual thriller in the vein of Rebecca and Gone Girl.”

What do you think of Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett joining Anne Hathaway in Verity? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Sony’s reimagined Anaconda movie starring Jack Black, Paul Rudd, and Daniela Melchior slithers into a Christmas Day 2025 release.

Something other than Santa Claus is coming to town next holiday as Sony plans to release its reimagined Anaconda movie in the Christmas 2025 window. With plans to take a comedic approach to the original 1997 creature feature, The Anaconda stars Jack Black, Paul Rudd, and Daniela Melchoir with The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent director Tom Gormican at the helm. The Anaconda slithers alongside other Christmas Day releases, including Paul Feig’s The Housemaid, starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, and A24’s ping-pong biopic Marty Supreme, starring Timothee Chalamet.

In addition to getting behind the camera, Tom Gormican wrote Sony’s The Anaconda with Kevin Etten (Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Workaholics).

1997’s Anaconda focuses on a “National Geographic” film crew taken hostage by an insane hunter who forces them along on his quest to capture the world’s largest—and deadliest—snake. Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Owen Wilson, Eric Stoltz, Jonathan Hyde, Kari Wuhrer, and Jon Voight lead the cast, with several getting devoured whole by the 25—and 40-foot-long anacondas. The film’s snakes were animatronic, giving them a more tactile and “real” look than a more modern CGI approach. Practical props and characters like the snakes in Anaconda are rare in today’s cinematic climate, making the Luis Llosa-directed jungle adventure a treat for old-school horror buffs and special effects fanatics.

According to sources, “the new story involves a group of friends facing mid-life crises who are remaking their favorite movie from their youth. They head to the rainforest only to find themselves thrown into a fight for their lives against natural disasters, giant snakes and violent criminals.”

Details are sparse about who Jack Black and Paul Rudd could play in the Anaconda movie, but sources mention two characters: a director stuck in his job as a wedding videographer and an actor who once did a stint on a police procedural but now sees his Hollywood dreams slipping away. Sony’s pitch implies a more comedic tone for the project, begging the question: How much animal-on-human violence can audiences expect? Is it still an Anaconda movie without a gruesome death or two? Hopefully, Tom Gormican and Kevin Etten will find a way to blend both action and comedy for an experience worth getting excited about.

What do you think about Sony’s The Anaconda opening on Christmas Day 2025? Let us know in the comments section below.

About the Author

Born and raised in New York, then immigrated to Canada, Steve Seigh has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. He started with Ink & Pixel, a column celebrating the magic and evolution of animation, before launching the companion YouTube series Animation Movies Revisited. He’s also the host of the Talking Comics Podcast, a personality-driven audio show focusing on comic books, film, music, and more. You’ll rarely catch him without headphones on his head and pancakes on his breath.

A24 has picked up domestic distribution rights to the thriller Victorian Psycho, starring Margaret Qualley and Thomasin McKenzie

Austin Butler may or may not be the new American Psycho, but while we wait to find out what’s going on with that situation, it is a sure thing that Butler’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood co-star Margaret Qualley is set to star in the psychological horror thriller Victorian Psycho, where she will be playing the title character. Today, Deadline has broken the news that A24 has acquired the domestic distribution rights to Victorian Psycho, which is scheduled to begin filming in March.

Zachary Wigon (The Heart Machine) will be directing the film from a screenplay written by author Virginia Feito (Mrs. March), based on her upcoming novel of the same name. This will be the second collaboration between Wigon and Qualley, as she also starred in his film Sanctuary.

Victorian Psycho has the following synopsis: In 1858, a young, eccentric governess named Winifred Notty (Margaret Qualley) arrives at the remote gothic manor known as Ensor House. Winifred’s responsibilities include teaching the children table manners and educating them about their family’s history, all whilst hiding her psychopathic tendencies. As Winifred assimilates into life at Ensor House, staff members begin to inexplicably disappear, and the owners of the estate begin to wonder if there is something amiss about their new governess. Thomasin McKenzie, whose previous credits include Old and Last Night in Soho, will be playing a nursemaid at Ensor House who befriends the eccentric new Governess.

The film is being produced by Dan Kagan under his Traffic. banner, along with Wigon and Sebastien Raybaud, in association with Anonymous Content. Nick Shumaker and Bard Dorros serve as executive producers. Anton is providing the funding and representing international rights, launching sales at the upcoming American Film Market. U.S. rights are co-represented by Anton, UTA Independent Film Group, and CAA Media Finance. Production is set to begin in February of 2025.

When this project was first announced, Wigon provided the following statement: “As soon as I discovered this thoroughly insane and unforgettable character, I knew I had to introduce moviegoers to Winifred Notty. I am beyond thrilled that the utterly fearless Margaret Qualley will be bringing this complex antihero to vivid life. Virginia Feito’s screenplay is an audacious blend of psychodrama, satire, gore and mystery. With horror aficionado producer Dan Kagan and the support of Anton and Anonymous, I cannot wait to make Victorian Psycho.” Kagan added, “From its first few pages to its terrifying ending, Victorian Psycho entirely delivered on its promise of being a ride like nothing I’d read before. I couldn’t be more excited to be bringing this movie to life with our partners at Anton and Anonymous.” And Qualley had this to say: “Working with Zach [Wigon] again feels like a rare gift, and I can’t wait to step into this twisted world he’s created.“

Are you glad to hear that A24 has gotten involved with Victorian Psycho? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

According to a new report, Amazon-MGM and EON Productions have become locked in a bitter dispute about James Bond’s future.

It’s been nearly four years since Universal debuted No Time to Die, the last film featuring Daniel Craig’s James Bond. Considering the film’s ending, it is an opportunity to reinvent the character for a much-anticipated revival. However, an alleged feud between the producers of the James Bond franchise and Amazon is gumming up the works. According to The Wall Street Journal, there is a stalemate between Amazon MGM Studios and EON Productions, which maintained complete creative control over Ian Fleming’s legendary superspy. The outlet suggests “more than 20 people familiar with the Broccoli-Amazon feud, including executives, business partners and friends” are involved in the standstill, with a frustrated Barbara Broccoli saying,“these people are f**king morons.”

Problems around what to do with James Bond reportedly go back to when Amazon merged with MGM in 2022. The Wall Street Journal‘s report says people at Amazon pitched various 007 TV spinoffs, with all concerned eager to get the Bond train rolling as soon as possible. Still, with EON Productions holding all the martinis (shaken, not stirred), a divide emerged, with the studio remaining adamant about not letting the James Bond IP go sideways because of hasty decisions.

Another element of why 007’s return remains problematic is the high-pressure task of replacing Daniel Craig as James Bond. Allegedly, Amazon and EON Productions have different ideas about who the next James Bond could be. While EON is cool with casting an unknown actor in the role, Amazon-MGM wants someone more recognizable, with Bullet Train and The Fall Guy actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson possibly being eyed for the part.

It’s important to remember that the comments in WSJ‘s article come from unnamed sources, so take all of this with a grain of salt. With any luck, and likely a lot of bickering and red tape, Amazon-MGM and EON can agree about 007’s future, whether it concerns a new feature film or television spinoff series. It stands to reason that every moment the studios waste in locking horns is a missed opportunity to cash in on one of the most legendary characters in film and fiction.

Who would you cast as the next James Bond? Should the story occur after No Time to Die or introduce a new timeline? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

About the Author

Born and raised in New York, then immigrated to Canada, Steve Seigh has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. He started with Ink & Pixel, a column celebrating the magic and evolution of animation, before launching the companion YouTube series Animation Movies Revisited. He’s also the host of the Talking Comics Podcast, a personality-driven audio show focusing on comic books, film, music, and more. You’ll rarely catch him without headphones on his head and pancakes on his breath.

The free movies released through the JoBlo TV YouTube channel this week were Assassin’s Game, All in the Family, and Robot Riot

At the end of September, JoBlo Media and Octane Multimedia teamed up to launch a new YouTube channel named JoBlo TV, which hosts multiple feature films to watch for free throughout the week. The genres we’ll be focusing on at JoBlo TV are Action, Horror, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Thrillers – and the free movies we shared this week covered action, sci-fi, and thriller territory, with some mystery and comedy thrown into the mix as well.

This week’s line-up consisted of the sci-fi action movie Assassin’s Game, the comedic mystery thriller All in the Family, and the sci-fi action movie Robot Riot. Here’s some information on each of them:

Directed by Keith Collins II, who also wrote the screenplay with Porche Robinson, Assassin’s Game has the following synopsis: A group of assassin known as the Shadows are placed in a “Battle Royale” against each other in a fight to the death. Max, one of the Shadows, must fight off a team of mercenaries, his friends, and try and maintain his sanity as the twisted game unfolds. The film stars B.J. Halsall, Vernard Adams, Demond Ballou, Jassen Bruegman, Ember Burns, George Comer, John Dannug, James Eckstein, Shalanda Fresh, Ben Garton, Thomas H.F. Gassaway, Carol Germano, Sal Germano, Stephen Haas, Ernest Jam, and more.

The feature debut of writer/director Holland Malone, All in the Family tells a story that takes place over the course of one night, with two African-American families convening to celebrate the engagement of their eldest sons. After the celebration takes an unexpectedly macabre turn, the night descends into one of deceit, blood, and betrayal. Thomas Elam, Caleb Gaddis, Makeala Hiner-Smith, Ansonia Jones, Mark Jones, Tasha Poullard, Alexcia Thompson, Krystal Uchem, Ray Walker, Donte Wright, George Wyche, Abril Jauregui, Joshua Herrera, Matthew Adams, and Andre Hankerson star.

Ryan Staples Scott directed Robot Riot and wrote the screenplay with Aaron Mirtes, crafting the following story: When unconscious soldiers are dropped into Mechwood, a once-peaceful, cutting-edge community, they quickly realize something is horribly wrong. Their memories have been wiped, and the machines that were once their allies are now weaponized killing machines on the hunt! As the soldiers struggle to survive, they uncover a shocking truth: these deadly machines aren’t just a threat to them—they’re a global danger. Sarah J. Bartholomew, Cait Brasel, Barrett D. Carroll, Jamie Costa, Justin France, Emily Hileman, Jason Leyva, Ryan Merriman, Brooks Ryan, Luke Wyckoff, and R.J. Wagner star.

To follow our JoBlo TV releases, click over to the YouTube channel and subscribe! We also recently launched a new page at JoBloYouTubeNetwork.com, where you can access all of our YouTube channels from one place. 

The Order, Justin Kurzel’s FBI thriller starring Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, and more, comes to On Demand this Christmas Eve.

Santa Claus won’t be the only thing coming down the chimney this Christmas Eve, as director Justin Kurzel’s (Macbeth, True History of the Kelly Gang, Ellis Park) FBI thriller The Order comes to On Demand. In the film, a string of violent robberies in the Pacific Northwest leads a veteran FBI agent into a domestic terrorist plot to overthrow the federal government. Nothing says Christmas like violence and corruption! Who’s bringing the spiked eggnog?

Here’s the official synopsis for The Order:

“For over a year, a series of bold daylight bank robberies and armored car heists leaves law enforcement baffled and the public panicked throughout the Pacific Northwest. As the attacks become increasingly violent, FBI agent Terry Husk (Jude Law) becomes convinced that the robberies are the work of a domestic terrorist gang that plans to use the loot to finance an armed uprising against the U.S. government.

Based on a true story, The Order follows Husk and his team into the tangled world of white supremacists to try to head off a violent uprising that could shatter the nation. As the militia builds a war chest of over $4 million, Husk pursues the malevolent racist Bob Mathews to a final bloody standoff that will go down in U.S. history.”

Law plays “a lone FBI agent stationed in the sleepy, picturesque town of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, who believes the crimes were not the work of traditional criminals. He thinks the disturbance is the work of domestic terrorists with a charismatic leader (Hoult).” Alison Oliver, Odessa Young, Sebastian Pigott, George Tchortov, Victor Slezak, and Marc Maron star as primary cast members.

Our Editor-in-Chief, Chris Bumbray, reviewed The Order, saying Justin Kurzel’s film is a “pretty slick thriller” with “several impressive action sequences.” Chris says The Order feels like a ’90s action flick in all the best ways, with everyone giving solid performances against one of Kurzel’s best directorial efforts.

Typically, Christmas Eve is reserved for family-friendly holiday fare like Elf, A Christmas Story, and Ernest Saves Christmas. However, if your family is anything like mine, movies like Die Hard, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and Violent Night make it into the mix. Maybe we’ll add The Order to the list this year, maybe after the kids go to bed. Will you watch The Order via On Demand this Christmas Eve? Let us know in the comments section below.

About the Author

Born and raised in New York, then immigrated to Canada, Steve Seigh has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. He started with Ink & Pixel, a column celebrating the magic and evolution of animation, before launching the companion YouTube series Animation Movies Revisited. He’s also the host of the Talking Comics Podcast, a personality-driven audio show focusing on comic books, film, music, and more. You’ll rarely catch him without headphones on his head and pancakes on his breath.

Brad Winderbaum, Marvel Studios’ Head of Streaming, TV, and Animation, says Jeff the Land Shark could get his own film or TV series.

It sounds like everyone’s favorite chompy boy, Jeff the Land Shark, is getting his own project at Marvel Studios! The increasingly popular Marvel character created by Kelly Thompson and Daniele di Nicuolo could be the focus of a new film or television series, at least if Brad Winderbaum, Marvel Studios’ Head of Streaming, TV, and Animation, has anything to say about it.

Speaking with Brandon Davis about What If… Season 3, Winderbaum hinted that a Jeff the Land Shark project is more than likely to happen. The adorable, dog-like shark recently made a splash in the studio’s hero shooter video game Marvel Rivals, alerting the masses to his overwhelming appeal. In Marvel Rivals, players controlling Jeff can quickly swim around the level (Jaws-style) to reach teammates in need of healing. Jeff uses a powerful stream of water, floating bubbles, and chip-damage attacks to save compatriots or eliminate foes. If you wait long enough or perform well in the game, Jeff can unleash an ultimate attack that sees him creating a whirlpool that sucks players into its vortex for a devastating attack. Jeff the Land Shark is one of my favorite characters in Marvel Rivals, alongside Squirrel Girl, Punisher, Hela, and Luna Snow.

Jeff the Land Shark debuted in Kelly Thompson’s West Coast Avengers #7 as Gwen Poole’s adopted pet. When he’s not hanging out with Gwenpool, he’s mixing it up with Kate Bishop or starring in his own collection of one-shot comics under the name It’s Jeff…

While Jeff frustrates some Marvel Rivals players, others embrace his adorable antics and Saturday Morning Cartoon vibes. Winderbaum does not say what kind of project Marvel Studios has in mind for the character, though a series of shorts on Disney+ feels like the right approach. I’m picturing something akin to Marvel’s I am Groot series, but way better. It will probably be a while before we hear anything more about a project featuring Jeff the Land Shark. Still, it’s nice to know Marvel Studios is aware of his increasing popularity and hopes to capitalize on it with a new film or television project.

About the Author

Born and raised in New York, then immigrated to Canada, Steve Seigh has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. He started with Ink & Pixel, a column celebrating the magic and evolution of animation, before launching the companion YouTube series Animation Movies Revisited. He’s also the host of the Talking Comics Podcast, a personality-driven audio show focusing on comic books, film, music, and more. You’ll rarely catch him without headphones on his head and pancakes on his breath.

Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers has revealed the movie will have Mary Poppins and not many survivors

We had heard that director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers were planning to create a cinematic universe with the Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey films and other horror movies inspired by children’s stories, like Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare, Bambi: The Reckoning, and Pinocchio Unstrung. Then, Jagged Edge Productions and ITN Studios officially announced that this cinematic universe, which is being referred to as The Twisted Childhood Universe, is building up to the crossover movie Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble, which will be released in 2025. Now, JoBlo’s own Tyler Nichols has had the chance to talk to Chambers about their plans for Poohniverse – and during their conversation, Chambers revealed that one of the classic children’s story characters who will be added into the mix with this movie, which sounds like it’s going to be a total bloodbath, is Mary Poppins!

Mary Poppins was created by writer P. L. Travers, who wrote about the character in a series of eight novels. Walt Disney released a musical Mary Poppins film in 1964 that starred Julie Andrews as the character, and in 2018 she was played by Emily Blunt in Mary Poppins Returns.

Frake-Waterfield will be directing Poohniverse from a screenplay he wrote with Chambers. It was previously confirmed that the cast will include Chambers as Christopher Robin, Megan Plactio as Wendy Darling, Roxanne Mckee as Xana, Lewis Santer as Tigger, and Martin Portlock as Peter Pan. Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare and Bambi: The Reckoning are set to receive theatrical releases in the first quarter of 2025, with Pinocchio Unstrung likely to follow later in the year, so we’ll be introduced to those horrific characters well before Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble makes it to screens.

Frake-Waterfield explains, “It will be complete carnage. We are heavily influenced by Freddy vs. Jason and The Avengers. We would love to see a horror movie where the villains group together and are going after their survivors. We have some incredible set pieces in mind and some sequences I think will truly shock people. The movies we are working on now as stand alones are all building towards Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble.“

Chambers added, “Similar to The Avengers, we will follow Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, Owl, Piglet, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, Bambi, The Mad Hatter, Peter Pan, and Tinkerbell joining forces to wreak havoc. We are working with a larger scale budget on this one and are excited for what the future will hold. When you see the stand alone movies you will see the easter eggs hinting toward the crossover. Some of the villains also will not see eye to eye, which will allow for some carnage within the group in some epic sequences of monster vs. monster.“

Speaking with Tyler, Chambers revealed, “You’re gonna get Mary Poppins. I just decided she’s gonna be in the mix. So she’s gonna be a nightmare in there. And also, just don’t expect anyone to survive. I love that Avengers [Infinity War] where they all die at the end, like Spider-Man and all that. Typically I don’t like those films. And I got dragged to the cinema, and when they all died, I was like, ‘Oh, I love it now, I want to watch the next one.’ But then, when they all got resurrected, I was like, [motions dismissively]. But in ours, truly, I want you to kind of, hopefully, like these characters. Like when you have your introductory films like Pinocchio, that you love the lead characters, and same with Peter Pan. But I’m going to destroy them in universe, and no one’s… like, it’s gonna be like you can count on a hand who’s going to survive it.“

Are you looking forward to Poohniverse, and are you glad to hear that it’s going to be a bloodbath with Mary Poppins in the mix? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.

Tim Blake Nelson requested that practical FX be used to create his character the Leader’s deformed head in Captain America: Brave New World

The next addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America: Brave New World, is set to reach theatres on February 14, 2025 – and this Captain America adventure sees Anthony Mackie’s character Sam Wilson, formerly known as Falcon, carrying the shield now that his pal Steve Rogers is retired. One of the villains he’ll be going up against is the Leader, a.k.a. Samuel Sterns, with Tim Blake Nelson reprising the character he previously played in The Incredible Hulk way back in 2008. Sterns will look a bit different than he did before – in the comics, the Leader character is known to have green skin and a deformed head. During an interview with Empire, Nelson revealed that he requested practical effects be used to create his character’s head.

Here’s the official information on Captain America: Brave New World, straight from Marvel: Anthony Mackie returns as the high-flying hero, who’s officially taken up the mantle of Captain America. Harrison Ford makes his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as newly-elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, a role originated by the late William Hurt. Ross and Sam have a bit of a history: In his previous role as Secretary of State, Ross was responsible for arresting Sam and his fellow Avengers during the events of Captain America: Civil War. Now as president, Ross is eager to work with Sam, hoping to make Captain America an official military position. But that tentative alliance is jeopardized when Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident, with friend and retired super-soldier Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) as the prime suspect. Sam’s investigation send him on a dangerous chase, and (leading to) a deadly showdown and a tease of the menacing Red Hulk. Danny Ramirez returns as former Air Force lieutenant Joaquin Torres, who’s picked up Sam’s old wings and taken on the role of Falcon. Tim Blake Nelson is also back as Samuel Sterns, AKA The Leader, appearing in the MCU for the first time since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. New to the cast is Shira Haas, who joins as Ruth Bat-Seraph. A former Black Widow, Ruth is now a high-ranking U.S. government official who has the trust of President Ross. Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, and Xosha Roquemore also star. The film is directed by Julius Onah and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore. Louis D’Esposito and Charles Newirth serve as executive producers.

During his Empire interview, Nelson confirmed that we’ll be seeing the Leader’s colossal cranium in the authentically green, distended flesh. He said, “I requested that we do what we were going to do, practically. Which was a huge help, because I liked being able to feel the weight of the deformation on my head, rather than just wearing dots.“

Producer Nate Moore, had this to say about bringing the Leader into this story, along with Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross (also previously seen in The Incredible Hulk) and the character of Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford replaces the late William Hurt in that role): “When I was a kid, I always loved it when there were unexpected characters intersecting. We felt that this was a really interesting time to revisit [these characters.] And it didn’t feel like we’d be wedging it in. It actually felt like we could really explore it.“

Are you looking forward to seeing Tim Blake Nelson play the Leader, practical FX head and all, in Captain America: Brave New World? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II sets digital release date just in time for the holidays; plus, find out when it will be released on 4K Ultra HD.

If you’ve been holding out to watch Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II at home, you won’t have long to wait. Per Deadline, Gladiator II will be released on digital on December 24th, just in time for the holidays. The outlet also states that the film will be released on 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray on March 4, 2025, complete with over 100 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.

The 4K Ultra HD and Digital releases of Gladiator II will include the following special features:

• A Dream That Was Rome: Origins—Scott and producers delve into the history behind Gladiator II and how the story developed over many years before coming to the screen.

• What We Do In Life Echoes In Eternity: The Cast—An inside look into Scott’s casting process.

• In The Arena: Filmmakers—Behind the scenes shoot in Malta, Morocco, and the UK.

• To Those About To Die, We Salute You: Combat—How Scott and his team combined choreographed combat with cutting-edge visual effects to take the action to a new level.

• Building An Empire: Post-Production—Filmmakers provide insights into the process of crafting the finished movie, which includes a scoring session led by composer Harry Gregson-Williams.

• The Making Of Gladiator II—How Scott, the cast, and crew worked to bring Gladiator II to life.

“From legendary director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome,” reads the official Gladiator II synopsis. “Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) 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.”

Our own Chris Bumbray recently reviewed Gladiator II, and while he admits that it isn’t the instant classic the original was, “it’s nonetheless a highly entertaining, faithful sequel, jam-packed with action and spectacle. There hasn’t been a lavish, action-driven historical drama done on this scale in some time, with Scott, despite his advancing age, as energetic and kinetic a director as ever.” You can check out the rest of Bumbray’s review right here.

Will you be adding Gladiator II to your digital collection?