Is Gladiator 2 a true sequel to the first film?

No one believed and for a long time it was just a rumor. Twenty-four years after the first film, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II hits theaters. This is actor Paul Mescal, who appeared in the TV series Normal People, taking over for Russell Crowe. He plays a new hero named Lucius.

This new opus pays a lot of homage to the first, with several outtakes and mentions of the name of Maximus, whose ghost haunts the new plot. But is Gladiator II a direct sequel to the first film?

The story begins 16 years after the previous events. Rome this time is ruled by the tyrants Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) and Geta (Joseph Quinn), two brother emperors.

Only the characters of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and Gracchus (Derek Jacobs) returned. Nevertheless, the narrative of Gladiator II is closely related to the first film.

“This movie is like a homecomingrevealed Connie Nielsen in AlloCiné. I think fans of the first will find this a much needed new chapter. Nothing is neglected, everything is beautifully built.“

Paul Mescal, a different kind of hero

More than 20 years later, times have changed and Paul Mescall embodies a whole new kind of hero and a new form of masculinity. “It does not serve a masculine ideal or a macho discourseConnie Nielsen emphasizes. He embodies a complex character with emotions and genuine tenderness.“

Pedro Pascal, who plays General Acacius in the film, adds:All of Ridley Scott’s efforts, from the sets to the costumes, will be wasted if Gladiator isn’t convincing. Paul achieves this by taking the audience along physically and emotionally. And he has a real face!“

Commentaries collected by Thomas Desroches, London, 27 October 2024.

You can see Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II in theaters.