Gladiator 2 is going to provide some serious spectacle
Compiled by Eddie on 04/11/2024
Arriving 24 years after the much loved box office hit that was the original Gladiator in 2000, the film that launched Russell Crowe into the stratosphere and re-launched director Ridley Scott back in the big leagues, there are significant odds stacked up against Gladiator 2 but one is starting to suspect that we should feel relatively confident in our excitement levels now.
Ditching the idea that was a Nick Cave penned sequel and forgoing any reason to bring back Crowe’s Maximus, Gladiator 2 for the most part is its own beast that from early reports appears to be one of the cinematic spectacles of the year as we follow Paul Mescal’s Lucius on a bloodthirsty trip back into the Roman colosseum, providing us with what is hopefully a must-see cinematic event.
With a huge budget at its disposal and an end product that its director is self-claiming to be one of the best his produced across his multi-decade career, Gladiator 2 may be ending the latter stages of 2024 on a significant high.
Happy reading. See you at the movies!
1. Ridley Scott is Due
Proving that age shall not weary him, Ridley Scott and shares some advice with his leading man on set
The last 10-15 years of Ridley Scott’s directing career haven’t exactly been triumphant. While there’s box office smash The Martian in the mix the the criminally underrated The Last Duel, the famed filmmaker has also done himself no favours with the likes of Napoleon, House of Gucci, The Counsellor, All The Money in the World and Exodus: Gods and Kings. It’s an undeniably scattershot array of films of varying qualities but like all things in life the winds must eventually change and there’s a feeling that Gladiator 2 might just be the film to remind us all of Scott at his very best.
Hear more about Scott’s journey to make Gladiator 2 here –
https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/gladiator-2-best-things-ridley-scott-has-made-exclusive/
2. Paul Mescal’s Big Moment
One suspects that Gladiator 2 will ensure Paul Mescal will become a household name
Quietly going about building a very impressive early career thanks to his Oscar nominated turn in the heart-breaking Aftersun and cult TV series Normal People, Paul Mescal launches himself into the big leagues with his turn as Lucius in Gladiator 2. While not the first actor that springs to mind when one ponders who could lead a Gladiator sequel, there’s many parallels to Russell Crowe’s career moment in the original to Mescal’s moment in the spotlight here and one suspects we will be witnessing a new A-list star announce himself to the world here.
Gain insight in Mescal’s turn below –
https://www.gq.com/story/paul-mescal-enters-the-arena-in-gladiator-ii
3. Sharks & Rhinos
You may not have known you needed it but rhinos and gladiators should make for a good mix
Look I’m a simple man who likes simple things and one of those simple things I love to see in movies is buff man battling rhinos and sharks, which Gladiator 2 manages to include in its runtime. With a huge budget that is estimated to be far over $300 million, there’s going to be little skimping on spectacle in this action extravaganza which is sure to provide something we haven’t seen before on screen with its animal infested carnage.
Get the low-down on the animal chaos in Gladiator 2 here –
https://screenrant.com/gladiator-2-movie-rhino-sharks-colosseum-exciting/
4. Early Reactions
It appears as though Gladiator 2’s all-star cast have helped ensure this sequels success
Any fears we had about a washed out follow-up to the beloved early 2000’s original should be thrown away now we’ve seen and heard the early reactions from a wide-ranging group of viewers. With many praising the film as a long overdue return to form for Scott, highlighting an array of solid acting turns and getting excitable about the films abundant action scenes, at the very least Gladiator 2 should provide us with a great reason to get out into our local cinemas for a big screen spectacle.
Examine some of the early reactions below –
5. Denzel Washington Scenery Chewing
Early calls are coming in loud and fast around Denzel Washington’s award worthy turn
A common denominator from early reactions has been the praise heaped on previous Scott collaborator Denzel Washington, who has seemingly entered into the Best Supporting Actor Oscar race in a big way with his memorable turn as Macrinus. One of the most well-regarded and beloved actors working today, if an awards worthy Washington isn’t something to get excited about as a viewer I’m not sure what is.
Not convinced? Read some of these early opinions below on Washington’s turn –
Gladiator 2 hits Australian cinema screens on Thursday November 14th.
Are you excited for Gladiator 2? Prefer to watch the original again? Let me know in the comments below!
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys) 
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I am excited for this movie on all the points that you make for it. However, the big elephant in the room is the simple fact that the original film really didn’t need a sequel treatment. It was fantastic just as it is and was good as a standalone “one and down” type of movie. Belated sequels are still quite a thing to have in Hollywood’s eyes and I do hope that this sequel does great, but I have lingering doubts.
I have the same lingering fears.
My greatest hope is that it tries to carve out its own story and way without too much heralding back to what has come before. I am genuinely intrigued to see where it ends up falling.
E