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Gladiator II

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"Prepare to be entertained." - Tagline

Gladiator II is a sequel to the film Gladiator. Directed by Ridley Scott, who directed the original film, and written by David Scarpa, it was released in theaters in Australia and New Zealand on November 14, 2024[3], in the United Kingdom on November 15, 2024 and was released on November 22, 2024 in the U.S. and other markets,[4] though a number of theatres presented early screenings on November 21, 2024.[5] The film was released by Paramount Pictures. Universal Pictures was initially announced to release the film internationally, but later withdrew.

On August 28, 2024, it was reported that the film is rated R, which is the same as that of the original film.[6] The film's runtime is reported as being 148 minutes, slightly shorter than the 155 minute theatrical version of the original Gladiator.[2]

Synopsis[]

From legendary director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, 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 honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.[7]

Plot[]

A peace shattered[]

As a young man, the boy Lucius Verus witnessed the deeds of Maximus Decimus Meridius, the general who was made a slave and then a Gladiator and who killed the corrupt emperor Commodus. Before being killed by his son Commodus, Emperor Marcus Aurelius set Maximus a task: become the protector of Rome and the power back to the people, but 16 years later, this has not come to fruition, Rome now ruled by the corrupt emperors Caracalla and Geta who continue to ignore the needs of the people and ruthlessly plot to further expand Rome's territory.

Following the death of Commodus, Lucius was sent away by his mother, the Empress Lucilla, to the remote port village of Numidia in Africa for his own safety, knowing that we would not be safe in Rome against her many enemies. There, Lucius quickly settles into a new life, where he becomes known as "Hanno," and is taken in by Jubartha who treats him as a son and tutors him in the art of combat. Lucius falls in love with the woman Arishat and marries her. Together, the two live a simple, peaceful life on a farm, but Lucius never forgets his combat training, ready to fight at a moment's notice should Rome one day invade.

As expected, the day of Rome's invasion finally comes, an attack from the sea led by the forces of General Marcus Acacius. Lucius takes up arms along with his wife, serving valiantly as a leader in the battle. Although his efforts are strong, he can do nothing but watch in despair as his wife is felled by a shot to the breast from a Roman arrow and falls into the sea. Distracted, he too takes a hit. While not fatal, the blow knocks him into the water and as he passes out, he has a vision of his wife being led away by black-cloaked figures on the river Styx.

When Lucius comes to, Numidia has fallen. He and the other villagers are rounded up by the Roman invaders and placed onto barges to be taken back to Rome. On the journey there, Lucius talks with Jubartha, the man who treated him like a son. Jubartha tells him that he still remembers him as the lonely boy who came from the desert, guileless and afraid, who embraced everything they taught him.

Slaves of Rome[]

Jubartha tells him that they are being sent to something that he cannot do and that he knows the souls of his ancestors will be waiting for him in the next life. Sure enough, they are brought to Colosseum, where they and the other captives are set upon by savage monkeys. Though most of them do not survive, Lucius shows great grit, fighting back against and even biting the monkeys. His show of skill captures the attention of the two emperors, as well as the arms-trader and Gladiator-master Macrinus, who decides to take him on as a Gladiator.

General Acacius speaks with the emperors and expresses a desire to spend some time in peace with his family. Caracalla and Geta, however, have great ambitions, telling him that there are still many victories to come, Persia among others. He argues that Rome has too many subjects that need to be fed and the emperors declare that they can eat war. They declare that there shall be Gladiatorial games in honor of Acacius's victory.

Macrinus tells Lucius that he senses great rage in him. He tells him that he is to fight or die in the Colosseum. He asks him whose head he could give him that would satisfy his rage, to which he replies that it would take that of the entire Roman army. When, however, Macrinus calls it too much, he declares that of the general will do. Macrinus then brings Lucius to a party being held in honor of General Acacius. They take notice of Lucius but he refuses to speak. They are offended at first and Macrinus declares that Lucius does not speak their language, but then he surprises them all by quoting poetry by Virgil. They declare themselves amused and they look forward to seeing him fight.

Lucius does indeed fight and acquit himself well in the next Gladiatorial match. During the match, he is shocked to see his mother, Lucilla, sitting in the royal box alongside General Acacius, who is, in fact, her husband. Meanwhile, when Lucilla hears the emperors talking about Maximus quoting them poetry, she recognizes the poem and question and recalls it as being etched on the wall of the palace where she lives, thus realizing that the man fighting in the Colosseum is, in fact, her own son.

Having been injured during his Gladiatorial match, Lucius meets a man named Ravi. He learns that he is a doctor, but once fought as a Gladiator himself before winning his freedom and choosing to practice medicine. The the two of them quickly bond.

Coup attempt[]

General Acacius meets with Lucilla, revealing his dissatisfaction with the emperors' plans for continued war. The two get together with a select group of senators, including the Senators Gracchus and Thraex and form a plan. At the end of the current round of Gladiatorial games, Acacius shall currently send in the forces that he has gathered on the outskirts of Rome and depose the emperors.

Lucilla manages to secretly arrange a visit with Lucius. However, he is less than pleased to see her, telling her that his wife was killed under her husband's command. When she addresses him as "Lucius," he refuses to acknowledge her, saying that he does not know who she thinks that he is. He tells her that he has no mother that he can remember. He tells her that if her son were alive, she should not grieve him for he would not be the boy she sent away. In response, she tells him that he may think that she betrayed him, but she did what she had to do. He shouts at her to get out, but she tells him he has a mother's love and that more importantly that he needs to take his father's strength: that his name was Maximus Decimus Meridius and she sees him in him. At this, he again tells her to get out.

Acacius and Lucilla's coup attempt is a failure. The two are exposed by Senator Thraex, who it turns out is deeply in debt to Macrinus following a series of ill-advised bets. They are taken into custody by the Praetorian Guard and brought before Caracalla, Geta and Macrinus. Caracalla, the less stable of the two brothers and suffering from an illness of the brain is so enraged that he wishes to immediately kill the both of them. Geta, however, knowing that the two are loved by the people, instead arranges a different plan. He decides that Lucilla will be forced to watch as General Acacius is thrown into the Colosseum, where he will battle against her son, Lucius.

Upon seeing General Acacius in the Colosseum before him, Lucius is, as expected, filled with rage. He attacks Acacius viciously, most certainly intending to kill him. Before he can deliver a killing blow, however, Acacius pleads with him. He tells him that he truly loves his mother, Lucilla, and also that he loved his father. Lucius is swayed by the argument and lays down his sword, enraging the emperors, who declare that the gods have decided Acacius's fate. They have the Praetorian Guard shoot Acacius full of arrows, killing him. Lucius then stirs up the anger of the crowd, asking if this is how Rome treats its heroes. As the crowd's rage grows, Carcalla and Geta are forced to flee for their lives. Afterwards, Macrinus confronts Lucius, asking him why he did not kill Acacius, that he had given him exactly what he wanted. Lucius, however, tells him that he bought a Gladitor, not a slave and that his will is his own.

Revolt[]

Caracalla and Geta hole up at the palace, an angry mob gathering outside. There, Caracalla rants to Macrinus, complaining that his brother is plotting against him. He declares that it has always been so, even when the two of them were still together in the womb. Macrinus, sensing an opportunity, stokes Caracalla's rage and the two of them confront Geta together. Caracalla declares Geta to be a liar and although Geta tries to reason with him, pleading that he has always protected him and loves him. Geta looks to Macrinus for help, only for Macrinus to guide Caracalla's sword as he beheads his brother. In the aftermath, the two of them go before the Senate, Caracalla declaring his pet monkey Dondus to be his first consort and Macrius as his second. Macrinus then presents Geta's head to the Senate as a warning.

It is decided that Empress Lucilla will be punished by having her brought to the Colosseum, where she is to face the Praetorian Guard, defended by a lone Gladiator: her own son, Lucius. Meanwhile, his prison cell, Lucius attracts the attention of the doctor, Ravi. He then provides him with a ring that had been given to him by Lucilla, a token which proves his parentage. He urges the doctor to take it to the leader of the forces which Acacius had amassed outside of Rome and also convinces him to surrender his prison key.

A guard comes to release Lucius from his cell, providing him with a wooden sword, unaware that Lucius has used the key to undo his bonds. Lucius disables the guard with the sword, telling him that wood or steel, a point is still a point. He then uses the key to free his fellow Gladiators and gives them a rousing speech, telling him that if they want they can return to their cells, but that there was a time when honor meant something in Rome, that they can fight with him and find it. "Where death is, we are not. Where were are, death is not! By my sword, strength and honor!" he declares.

A battle for freedom[]

Lucius arrives in the arena, playing the ruse of being a lone Gladiator. As he approaches the carriage holding Lucilla, however, he calls out to his fellow Gladiators, who storm the Colosseum. Caracalla is beside himself with amusement, declaring it to be "War, real war!" Macrinus, much less entertained, takes a nail and stabs Caracalla through the ear, killing him instantly. He then takes up a bow and shoots and kills Lucilla, much to the anger of Lucius. He takes off in pursuit of Macrinus, who flees on a horse towards the outskirts of Rome.

The two of them find themselves approaching two armies who are rapidly gathering - the Praetorian Guard of Rome and General Acacius's forces. Upon seeing the two of them, the two forces withhold battling each other in order to witness the outcome of the fight. The two argue, Lucius telling Macrinus that he fights not for power, but to free Rome from men like him. For his part, Macrinus challenges Lucius, declaring his belief that power must be taken by and kept by force, asking him if he is such a man as this.

After an intense battle, Lucius succeeds in defeating Macrinus. Turning to the soldiers, Lucius declares that they have known too much death, asking that no more blood be spilled in the name of tyranny. He then returns to the Colosseum to mourn the loss of his parents, reflecting on their legacy and ideals. As he kneels, he asks for his father, Maximus, to speak to him.

Cast[]

Cast listing is from official poster and IMDb and has not been finalized.

Production[]

  • Filmmaker Ridley Scott had wanted to film in Rome, but was unable due to the creators of the streaming series Those About to Die having secured the rights to film in the wanted locations during the time needed. Filming instead took place in Ouarzaate, Morocco and various places in the United Kingdom, among other locations.[8]
  • Prior to the film's current concept, Ridley Scott had considered several ideas for the possibility of a film in which Maximus Decimus Meridius returned from the dead. One such concept involved a dying warrior becoming a portal for Maximus to come back from the dead. He was forced to abandon the idea for, as he stated, "But that didn't go down to well with the nobs. They thought it was ridiculous." Another concept, penned by Nick Cave around 2006, involved Maximus being in purgatory, the gods dying through a lack of worship, and them sending Maximus to Earth with the intent of killing Jesus Christ and all of his followers. This concept was not only rejected by the studio but reportedly disliked by Russell Crowe as well.[9]
  • On September 20, 2024, it was reported that Ridley Scott had begun developing ideas for a possible Gladiator III.[10]
  • Ridley Scott questioned whether to go back into Rome and do the Colosseum again, noting that they had already done with Russell Crowe. He ultimately decided, however, that "you better be in the Colosseum because it's called Gladiator. I don't know how you do it without going back into the Colosseum, otherwise there's no point in doing it."[11]
  • The film's budget has been reported variously as being anywhere from $250-310 million.[12] Regarding the budget, Steven Gaydos, executive editor of Variety, described it as being that "You can sere the money on screen." This was described as being in opposition to the budget of Joker: Folie à Deux, which had a budget of $200 million for "two people singing in a room." He noted that in the case of Gladiator II, that it had been savvily tested and costed since its inception, and had also sought lucrative tax credits and sponsorship deals.[13]
  • Although an extended cut of the original Gladiator film was offered on home video releases, director Ridley Scott has stated that this will not be the case for Gladiator II. Explaining the decision, he stated that he had shaped the film's narrative as he shot it and thus had cut as he was going, thus an extended cut is unnecessary.[14]
  • Arthur Max, production designer of the original Gladiator, was personally invited back by Ridley Scott for Gladiator II. He told him that they were going to for scale on the film and wanted to build everything bigger. A full-scale Colosseum was built for the film. Denzel Washington called it the biggest film he had been on, stating that it was like "Cecil B. Demille on steroids." Billy Edwards, standby art director, explained that everything was handmade and hand-painted.[15]

Music[]

Strength_And_Honor

Strength And Honor

Gladiator II is scored by Harry Gregson-Williams and Ariyan Mehedi, taking over from Hans Zimmer, who scored the original Gladiator. Gregson-Williams was a protégé of Zimmer and has previously scored other Ridley Scott films, such as The Martian and House of Gucci.[1] The film's soundtrack was released on November 15, 2024. The track "Strength and Honor" was released freely online in advance of the film.

Reception[]

A first screening of Gladiator II was held for members of the AMPAS (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences), SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and various critics in mid-October 2024. The film was immediately pegged as a contender for a number of awards and reception from the audience was overall highly positive. Denzel Washington was noted as a likely candidate for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a villain in the film.[16]

Reviews for Gladiator II began appearing on November 11, 2024, ahead of the film's international premiere. As of the evening of November 24, the film holds a score of 72% Certified Fresh at the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes with 148 reviews. The site's Critics' Consensus feature states that "Echoing its predecessor while upping the bloodsport and camp, Gladiator II is an action extravaganza that derives much of its strength and honor from Denzel Washington's scene-stealing performance."[17] Caryn James of BBC.com described the film as "the best popcorn film of the year," while Peter Bradshaw of Guardian described the film as "watchable and spectacular," despite considering the film also "weirdly almost a next-gen remake." Some critics were less favorable, for example, Kevin Maher of Times (UK) describing the film as having "half-formed characters (with one exception) and undernourished plotlines that seem to exist only in conversation with the Russell Crowe original."[18]

Following its domestic premiere in the United States on November 22, the worldwide box office for Gladiator II stands at an estimated $220 million, having made $55.5 million domestically in its first weekend. It was reported to be the best R-rated opening for a November film domestically, beating 2002's 8 Mile. Although the film did approximately half the domestic box office of Wicked, it was reported to be within expectations, given its nature as an R-rated action film.[19]

Trivia[]

  • The film will feature an almost entirely original cast, with only Connie Nielsen returning as Lucilla[20] and Derek Jacobi returning as Gracchus.[21]
  • Footage from Gladiator II was first unveiled at CinemaCon in April 2024. The reaction was greatly positive, with a thumbs up and loud cheers from those in the audience.[22]
  • Barry Keoghan was originally cast as the film's villain, but had to exit due to scheduling conflicts.[23] Joseph Quinn replaces Keoghan in the role, as Emperor Geta.[24]
  • The first trailer for the film was reported to be released in mid-July and will be attached to the film Deadpool & Wolverine, which premiered in theaters on July 26, 2024.[25] The trailer ultimately released on July 9 and as of July 13, 2024 has drawn nearly 15 million views, though many viewers criticized the trailer for revealing too much about the film, its use of rap music and Denzel Washington's role in the film.[26]
  • A first look at the film, with a number of images, was released by Vanity Fair on July 1, 2024.[27]
  • The film was released domestically on that same day as the first part of the theatrical adaptation of the musical Wicked, prompting comparisons with the simultaneous release of the films Barbie and Oppenheimer in 2023, colloquially known as "Barbenheimer."[28]
  • A second trailer and poster for the film were released on September 23, 2024.[29]

Gallery[]

Videos[]

Trailers[]

Character profiles[]

Other[]

Posters[]

Magazine Covers[]

Still images[]

External links[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ritan, Alex (January 5, 2024). Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator 2’ Taps Harry Gregson-Williams as Composer (EXCLUSIVE). Variety. Retrieved on July 13, 2024.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Smith, Jeremy (October 9, 2024). Gladiator 2's Runtime Has Been Revealed And It's Shorter Than The Original. Slash Film. Retrieved on October 11, 2024.
  3. ↑ Choy, Rachel (September 24, 2024). Gladiator II: Everything We Know Including Trailer, Plot, Release Date & Cast. Pedestrian. Retrieved on November 3, 2024.
  4. ↑ McPherson, Chris (June 19, 2024). ‘Gladiator 2’ Just Won the Battle for an Earlier Release Date Internationally. Collider. Retrieved on June 21, 2024.
  5. ↑ Gladiator II official website
  6. ↑ Harrigan, Will (August 28, 2024). Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II Returns to Ancient Rome with an R-Rating for ‘Strong Bloody Violence’. Cosmic Book News. Retrieved on August 28, 2024.
  7. ↑ Official website synopsis. Paramount Pictures. Retrieved on June 9, 2024.
  8. ↑ Bythrow, Nick (June 8, 2024). Why Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2 Didn’t Film In Rome Revealed. Screen Rant. Retrieved on June 8, 2024.
  9. ↑ Empire - "Unleash Hell" by Hayley Campbell, October 2024
  10. ↑ Sharf, Zack (September 20, 2024). Ridley Scott Is ‘Already Toying With the Idea’ for ‘Gladiator 3’: ‘Seriously! I’ve Lit the Fuse’. Variety. Retrieved on September 22, 2024.
  11. ↑ Total Film: "No Place Like Rome" by Matt Maytum, October 2024
  12. ↑ Perez, Rodrigo (February 23, 2024). ‘Gladiator 2’ Budget Balloons To $310 Million Amid Reports Of “Runaway” Spending [Report]. The Playlist. Retrieved on October 20, 2024.
  13. ↑ Shoard, Catherine (October 18, 2024). ‘You can see the money on screen’: why Hollywood is betting on Gladiator II not being another Folie à Deux. The Guardian. Retrieved on October 20, 2024.
  14. ↑ Garcia, Bella (November 4, 2024). Why Gladiator 2 Won't Get An Extended Cut Explained By Director Ridley Scott. Screen Rant. Retrieved on November 5, 2024.
  15. ↑ Rebuilding Rome for Gladiator II. Paramount Pictures (November 27, 2024). Retrieved on November 29, 2024.
  16. ↑ Davis, Clayton (October 18, 2024). ‘Gladiator 2’ Sends Ridley Scott, Denzel Washington and Paul Mescal into the Oscar Race; First Reactions Call Sequel ‘Epic’ and ‘Absolute Sicko Sh-t’. Variety. Retrieved on October 20, 2024.
  17. ↑ Gladiator II. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved on November 11, 2024.
  18. ↑ Gladiator II - Movie Reviews. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved on November 11, 2024.
  19. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 24, 2024). ‘Wicked’ & ‘Gladiator II’ AKA ‘Glicked’ Fuel $205M Combined Weekend, Best Pre-Thanksgiving Frame In 11 Years — Sunday AM Box Office Update. Deadline. Retrieved on November 24, 2024.
  20. ↑ Dibdin, Emma (March 2, 2024). Will Russell Crowe Return for 'Gladiator 2'? Everything to Know About the Upcoming Sequel. Parade. Retrieved on March 14, 2024.
  21. ↑ Gladiator 2 on Wikipedia
  22. ↑ Anthony D'Alessandro, Nancy Tartaglione (April 11, 2024). ‘Gladiator II’ First Look Gets Thumbs Up & Loud Cheers From Exhibs At CinemaCon. Deadline. Retrieved on April 13, 2024.
  23. ↑ Hermanns, Grant (May 24, 2024). Why Gladiator 2's Original Villain Actor Exited Ridley Scott's Sequel Explained. Screen Rant. Retrieved on May 25, 2024.
  24. ↑ Chase, Stephanie (May 19, 2023). White Lotus star Fred Hechinger replaces Barry Keoghan in Gladiator 2. Digital Spy. Retrieved on June 2, 2024.
  25. ↑ McPherson, Chris (June 24, 2024). Here's When the 'Gladiator 2' Trailer Will Drop [Exclusive]. Collider. Retrieved on June 25, 2024.
  26. ↑ Hibberd, James (July 12, 2024). The ‘Gladiator II’ Trailer Is Getting Review Bombed for Three Reasons. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved on July 13, 2024.
  27. ↑ Breznican, Anthony (July 1, 2024). Paul Mescal vs. Pedro Pascal: A First Look at the Epic Gladiator II. Vanity Fair. Retrieved on July 2, 2024.
  28. ↑ Blistein, Jon (July 2, 2024). If ‘Wicked’ and ‘Gladiator 2’ Is the Next ‘Barbenheimer,’ It Needs a Better Portmanteau Than ‘Wickiator’. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on July 4, 2024.
  29. ↑ McArdle, Tommy (September 23, 2024). Gladiator II: Denzel Washington and Paul Mescal Form an Uneasy Alliance in Thrilling New Trailer. People. Retrieved on September 23, 2024.
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