- Early reviews for Gladiator 2 have proven to be generally positive; with certain pundits calling it director Ridley Scott’s best work to date.
- The lion’s share of the praise has been received by the film’s cast, particularly Denzel Washington, as well as the ambitious Ben Hur-esque scale of the spectacle.
- Gladiator 2 release date: November 22nd, 2024 (US) & November 15th, 2024 (Australia/International).
Anybody who was concerned about preserving the sanctity of the original Gladiator mythology and managing their expectations can now breathe a sigh of relief — by all accounts, Ridley Scott has crafted a worthy sequel starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington.
In the wake of its first screening hosted last week, early reactions to Gladiator 2 (stylised as Gladiator II) have made their way to social media. And they appear to be quite promising.
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Major kudos have been offered to both its stellar cast — particularly the scene-stealing Mr Washington — honouring its filmic predecessor’s legacy, as well as the sheer scale of this $300 million-plus blockbuster. In fact, there’s already Oscar chat. Imagine if it nabs ‘Best Picture’ like Gladiator (2000)?
It’s worth noting, however, that not every review has been in complete and dogmatic praise. Some cited a lack of “focus and emotional punch” compared to the original; and a failure to “rise to the greatness” of the Russell Crowe flick.
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Still, regardless of whatever niggling problems critics had with Gladiator II, the overwhelming consensus is that it’s bloody entertaining (emphasis on the bloody).
Check out a selection of first reactions to Gladiator 2 below:
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Gladiator 2 is scheduled to premiere on November 22nd, 2024 (US) and November 15th, 2024 (Australia/International) — check out the trailer below.
Official Synopsis:
Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus (Russell Crowe) at the hands of his uncle (Joaquin Phoenix), Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honour to return the glory of Rome to its people.
