Paramount Studios made a bold move at CineEurope by unveiling an exclusive extended look at Gladiator II, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2000 Best Picture Oscar winner. Director Ridley Scott assured the audience that the nearly two-and-a-half decades spent waiting for this sequel will be worth it. The footage showcased stars like Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, and Joseph Quinn, creating buzz for the global release in November.
Mark Viane, President of International Theatrical Distribution at Paramount, once again stole the spotlight at CineEurope with his signature entrance tied to a major Paramount title. Dressed in gladiator garb as Markimus Vianus, Viane set the tone for the event by celebrating the theatrical experience in a cheeky pre-recorded video. With the Paramount logo emblazoned on his vest, he rallied the international distribution team, exclaiming, “On my signal, distribute hell!” Viane also highlighted Paramount’s successful year so far with releases like Mean Girls, Bob Marley: One Love, and IF, promising the “biggest Paramount presentation ever” at CineEurope.
The event featured two extended 3D scenes from the highly-anticipated September release Transformers One, with star Chris Hemsworth praising the movie as “out of this world.” The animation film directed by Josh Cooley received a standing ovation at a recent screening in Annecy and delves into the origins story of Optimus Prime and Megatron. The audience at CineEurope showed enthusiastic support for this buzz-worthy film.
Another highlight was the prequel A Quiet Place: Day One, directed by Michael Sarnoski and starring Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou, and Alex Wolff. The origin story in the $638M+ global franchise explores the first day the aliens arrive on Earth, depicting the ensuing catastrophe. Nyong’o promised that audiences will be on the edge of their seats with this thrilling prequel.
Attendees at CineEurope also got a sneak peek at Smile 2, the sequel to a surprise 2022 horror hit by Parker Finn. The sequel introduces a new set of characters within the same universe, eliciting audible screams from the audience. Additionally, Paramount teased the upcoming holiday release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, showcasing an exclusive sneak peek that introduces the mysterious Shadow. Other footage shared at the event included dark comedy Savage House starring Richard E Grant and Claire Foy, as well as an animation test of the upcoming Smurfs film.
Overall, Paramount’s presentation at CineEurope 2023 left audiences buzzing with excitement for the studio’s upcoming releases. With a mix of sequels, prequels, and original films in various genres, Paramount continues to captivate and entertain audiences worldwide.