LONDON – Sometime around the start of the second century, in the spot where The Guildhall now stands, the Romans completed a coliseum which housed chariot racers and, yes, gladiators. On 13 November, a bit of this ancient grandeur (happily without actual gladiatorial combat!) returned to London, as the city hosted the long-awaited premiere of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2 at Leicester Square, complete with set pieces inspired by Roman architecture.

The setting, created by Limited Edition Event design, welcomed a glittering array of guests, including the film’s director and stars, along with none other than King Charles, himself. Contributing to the glamorous and festive tone of the event was a lighting design by Richard Godin that was run on a Chamsys MagicQ MQ250M desk, anchored by a mighty legion of CHAUVET Professional LED video panels, all supplied by Milton Keynes-based IPS .

At the heart of the design were 132 REM 3IP LED screens that ran along the length of the Romanesque set pieces that flanked the red carpet area. Framed on either side by “Roman columns,” the bright (4,500 NITS) indoor/outdoor panels displayed images from the film. Their DCI-P3 color gamut made it possible to use a broader range of hues, while its 3.9mm pitch ensure crystal clear images.

“The Chauvet REM 3IP LED Screen in this project looked superb,” said James Mason of IPS, who added that five OnAir IP panels were also used at the premiere, lighting the star-studded event’s busy interview area. Other CHAUVET Professional fixtures that helped make this global career shine included six Ovation Reve E-3 Profiles and 36 WELL Fit uplighters.

Like the film itself, the global premiere of Gladiator 2 enjoyed rave reviews on that November night. The 72nd Royal Film Performance™ by the charity in its 100-year history, the event not only raised money for a good cause, but it also provided all involved with what one news reporter called “a hot to trot” good time. Indeed, the premiere just might have been one of the more notable gladiatorial events to happen in London in about 19 centuries or so.