’Gladiator 2’ Filming Spurs Record Revenue Boost for Morocco’s Film Industry

According to the Moroccan Cinematographic Center (CCM), the filming of "Gladiator 2" should generate an income of around 300 million dirhams, or nearly a third of the total revenues from foreign productions last year. Some scenes from the first version of the film had already been shot in Ouarzazate in 1999, thus affirming the value of Morocco as a land of cinema.

But the global context remains marked by the shadow of Covid-19. The French newspaper Le Monde reported a drastic drop in investments by international productions in Morocco, from 800 million dirhams in 2019 to 440 million in 2021. Nevertheless, Khalid Essaïdi, former general director of the CCM, remains optimistic, forecasting revenues of around 2 billion dirhams for this year, a record in sight therefore.

Despite the diversity of landscapes and filming locations, as well as the availability of highly qualified technicians, Morocco faces competition from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. To encourage directors to choose Morocco, the CCM has established several criteria, including a minimum investment of 10 million dirhams, which can open the right to a 30% reimbursement of the expenses incurred. But potential censorship in the Gulf countries could also encourage filmmakers to avoid taking risks on controversial subjects, contributing to maintaining the appeal of Morocco for international film production.