The Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mehdi Bensaid, paid a visit to the filming location of the much-anticipated movie “Gladiator 2” in the city of Ouarzazate, on Wednesday.
The visit by the Minister follows a minor fire incident at the film shooting studio. This occurrence was unfortunately misrepresented and inaccurately exaggerated in some international media outlets, misleadingly presented as a dramatic explosion. However, in reality, it was a minor incident that was promptly managed by the studio crew, with the fire being extinguished immediately.
According to an official communique from the Ministry, the visit allowed the Minister to personally meet with the illustrious British director and producer, Ridley Scott, and his production team. During the meeting, Bensaid reiterated that Morocco, particularly Ouarzazate, is a world-renowned filming destination endowed with exceptional capabilities for hosting global cinema productions.
The Ministry’s statement also emphasized that the Minister’s visit was part of a broader initiative to support Ouarzazate and bolster international film production in Morocco. The Minister emphasized, “These productions not only contribute to the local economy but also generate a considerable number of direct and indirect employment opportunities.”
While at the filming site, the Minister interacted with the crew members, reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to supporting such large-scale productions. He further noted that the Ministry would contribute to the cinema and cultural industry’s growth and development.
The statement concluded by addressing the minor fire incident, stressing that “it will not affect the global cinematic destination Ouarzazate, which will remain as it has always been a destination for global stars to shoot their international works.”
