Finally, twenty four years after the original Gladiator movie was released, Ridley Scott is releasing the sequel. The upcoming sequel Gladiator II, following the original film Gladiator will be coming to theaters on November 22. The sequel will pick up two decades after the main character Maximus’ death in the first film. The sequel will follow Maximus’ secret son Lucius, who went to North Africa to become a fighter but then has to return back to his home in Rome because Roman emperors conquered it. Lucius must enter the Colosseum and find the honor and strength to return the glory of Rome to its people.
The two films have the same director, Ridley Scott. After 24 years since the original Gladiator was made, Scott decided to create a sequel. The original Gladiator was such a hit with the epic starring actor Russell Crowe. It even won an Oscar award for best picture. The sequel to Gladiator has been in the making for almost 20 years. Scott wanted to create a sequel, but at first, didn’t know how because there was no story or main survivor from the original film. After further consideration, Scott concluded that they did have a person that they could follow, which was Maximus’ son from the original film.
Once Scott decided on the main plot of the sequel he needed to find someone to play Maximus’ son, Lucius. Scott made the decision to have actor Paul Mescal play the leading role after seeing him in the show Normal People. Another well known actor that will be starring in Gladiator II is Denzel Washington as the character Macrinus. Two other famous actors that will be in this new film are Joseph Quinn as L’imperatore Caracalla and Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius. Scott also brought back returning actors Dijmon Hounsou and Connie Nelson from the original Gladiator.
Critics are saying that the sequel showcases beautiful pieces, many epic battles, and that Mescal shines through his role. Many people are anxious to see if this sequel can give the same feeling as the original and bring back Scotts great directing skills. Since his most recent failure with the film Napoleon, which was historically inaccurate and had inappropriate marketing, fans this fall are excited and ready to see Mescal on the screen in the action packed film set in Rome 211 AD.
