Gladiator 2 set is seen near completion in Malta as an amphitheatre and ancient Roman buildings are

Production for Gladiator 2 was seen well underway in Malta as the set appeared to be very near completion on Thursday.

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.

Ancient Roman buildings and an amphitheatre were being constructed near the shore at Fort Ricasoli to bring the world alive for the hotly-anticipated blockbuster.

The amphitheatre had been constructed in a half-circle, complete with seating in the stands and vast statues lining the walls.

Other ancient buildings boasting impressive columns as the set took over the fort in preparation for the much-awaited Gladiator sequel.

Production for Gladiator 2 was seen well underway in Malta as the set appeared to be very near completion on Thursday

Paul Mescal (pictured) 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

Ancient Roman buildings and an amphitheatre were being constructed near the shore at Fort Ricasoli to bring the world alive for the hotly-anticipated blockbuster

Scaffolding could be seen surrounding the structures as the finishing touches were put on the impressive sets for the epic. 

It comes after filming was thrown into chaos after crew members were reportedly injured in an explosion.

The much-awaited sequel, which comes more than 20 years after the original, 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.'

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.

'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.

The amphitheatre had been constructed in a half-circle, complete with seating in the stands and vast statues lining the walls

An aerial shot showed off the picturesque location in Malta, as many of the sets could be seen around the fort 

Other ancient buildings boasting impressive columns as the set took over the fort in preparation for the much-awaited Gladiator sequel

One building featured a hugely impressive pillared entrance and stairs leading up to it and vehicles could be seen putting the finishing touches on it 

Vehicles could be seen lining up outside the ancient buildings as the sets were under construction 

Paul Mescal will be leading the new film as Lucius, the nephew of the emperor Commodus (Phoenix) and the secret son of Crowe's character Maximus

He was played as a child in the first film by Spencer Treat Clark, but the Irish actor will be taking over the part

While the new film brings back director Ridley Scott, Russell Crowe won't be featured, as his character died at the end of the original film

'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.

While the new film brings back director Ridley Scott, Russell won't be featured, as his character died at the end of the original film. 

Paul Mescal will be leading the new film as Lucius, the nephew of the emperor Commodus (Phoenix) and the secret son of Crowe's character Maximus, who was saved in the original film by his father.

He was played as a child in the first film by Spencer Treat Clark, but the Irish actor will be taking over the part.

One building featured a grand staircase leading up to a huge pillared entrance into a grand building 

Patterned flooring could be seen being put down inside the entrance to one building as they transformed into the ancient world

Scaffolding could be seen surrounding the structures as the finishing touches were put on the impressive sets for the epic

The set was surrounded by stunning scenery as the actors will be filming scenes in Malta 

It comes after filming was thrown into chaos after crew members were reportedly injured in an explosion (pictured: The location of the set in Malta) 

The highly anticipated sequel had been shooting in Morocco and the neighboring Sahara desert (pictured: The set in Malta)

The original Gladiator grossed five times its budget, and it helped cement the stardom of Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix (Russell Crowe seen in Gladiator, 2000)

Connie Neilsen will reprise her role as Lucilla, his mother, while Derek Jacobi will also return as a Roman senator and Djimon Hounsou will be back playing a former gladiator and friend of Maximus.

Denzel Washington has joined the cast in an important role, though his character has not yet been revealed.

Pedro Pascal and Matt Lucas are among the new cast members, and Stranger Things' breakout star Joseph Quinn will play Emperor Caracalla, who has often been painted as a tyrant in histories of the era.

Gladiator 2 is expected to debut in theaters in late 2024.

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