The twentieth anniversary of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator (2000) was an important moment in film history, for it not only marked a great film and work of art, but it also reminded audiences how peplum and historical epics still mattered. The edited collection “A Hero Will Endure”: Essays at the Twentieth Anniversary of ‘Gladiator’ (2023) provided insights on the film two decades after its release.

Yet now there is a sequel. This CFP therefore serves to build on the work done in the 2023 essays and provide a further avenue of exploration for connections between the two films as well as innovative readings of Gladiator 2 on its own.

Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Comparisons between the two films
• Considerations of the nature of heroism and its changes over time
• Character studies
• Historical explorations of specific people and events

 *If you would like to propose a chapter about politics, please send an inquiry. I have several chapters with a political angle already.

Abstracts will be due April 1, 2025. Completed chapters of 5,000-7,000 words will be due August 15, 2025.

Please send abstracts and questions to Rachel Carazo at rachel.carazo@snhu.edu.