summarize
- $50 million refund gladiator 2 It is facing backlash from Maltese locals who feel it takes away their jobs.
- Malta’s film commissioner, Johann Grech, defended the decision, saying it was aimed at attracting more foreign investment and protecting local jobs.
- controversy surrounding gladiator 2 Concerns about animal cruelty and recent on-set accidents were also included, but the former have been refuted by producers.
After setting a new European film record, gladiator 2The $50 million refund was met with fierce opposition from Maltese locals. The upcoming film, the sequel to Ridley Scott’s acclaimed historical epic, takes place 20 years after the 2000 Oscar winner and follows Commodus’ nephew Lucius as he grows up and how he changed after he was rescued from his uncle by Maximus. . Scott returned to the helm and assembled a massive roster for the team. gladiator 2 Cast includes Paul Mescal as Lucius, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Red Herzinger and May Callamaway.
Just days after the economic incentives were announced, gladiator 2Malta’s film commissioner strongly opposes $50m refund john grech Now responding in a new video on his Twitter (translated from times of malta). Gretch strongly defended the decision to give such large kickbacks to foreign productions, criticizing local businesses who opposed the decision”Assault on the stability of the film industry“And make sure it’s not about dispossessing local businesses, it’s about”attract more foreign investment’ for them. See the quote below and Grech’s explanation in the video:
Those who attack Malta’s cash-back incentives are attacking the stability of the film industry. This is an attack on our country to crowd out foreign investment. Those who are against cash kickbacks are against your job and your future. But we will protect your job. This is an attack on the jobs of the Maltese and Gozitans and those who invest in the industry through their businesses. To us, your work is important. When we talk to foreign production companies, we realize that you guys are one of the main reasons we’re able to bring so many films to our country, and I won’t let anyone kill your work. This is one of the many incentives we provide to other industries such as gaming and financial services to attract more foreign investment. My message is to bring us all together. Division will never get us anywhere. We are all brothers and sisters, every time we work together, our country always wins. We create stability for the industry and job opportunities for you throughout the year. We won’t stop there, and we won’t go back to the wage industry. We won’t leave you alone. We will protect your job.
Why the Gladiator 2 Refunds Are Getting Backlashed
Major tax refund isn’t the only controversy gladiator 2 During filming, an accident occurred just days after filming began, hospitalizing four crew members and injuring two others. Additionally, PETA began blaming animal cruelty because “Whistleblower report“Horses and primates were treated poorly and live animals were urged not to be used anymore. These concerns were later refuted by a source close to the production who assured the Humane Society of the United States was on site during filming and that no animals were harmed.” .
As Grech points out above, the sequel’s record-setting refunds have been largely met with backlash from Maltese locals, who feel that the almost all-foreign production has taken jobs away. Given the scale of this historical epic, there must have been plenty of opportunities for production jobs for residents of the film’s locations. Furthermore, the decision to provide some financial relief to Paramount and Universal simply because they chose to shoot in the country may be seen as similar behavior in future productions seeking to shoot in Malta, rather than as a push for local recruitment .
That said, Gretsch assured that the Malta Film Commission will seek to protect local jobs and that the deal is for gladiator 2 It may be a stepping stone to establish the above-mentioned relationship with foreign productions. It’s unclear if such clauses were included in the contract signed between the organization and the studio, but instead of enabling them, Grech and his team ensured that as more blockbuster projects came to the country, locals will not be excluded.
Source: Times of Malta & @John Grange/Twitter