Paul Mescal, Connie Nielsen, Denzel Washington and Fred Hechinger were on hand for the highly anticipated “Gladiator II” Special Screening on Friday Night. It was followed by a Q&A and Reception at Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles, California.
The screening was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Jacqueline Coley.
The long-awaited sequel to the Oscar winning 2001 film, from 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.
The buzz from the various trades and socials praised the film. While it might not quite match the original, GLADIATOR II was generally considered a solid addition to the franchise.
Scott Mantz, KTLA journalist, wrote on X: “GLADIATOR II is indeed the REAL DEAL! An epic sequel worthy of its Oscar-winning predecessor — great action, amazing visual effects, stellar performances across the board (esp. PAUL MESCAL & DENZEL WASHINGTON)! A return to form for director RIDLEY SCOTT!”
Drew Taylor of The Wrap said: “rest easy, Romans. #Gladiator2 is the kind of large scale filmmaking excellence only Ridley Scott could corral. Everything about it just works. Big #Maverick vibes in its ability to conjure the past while adding something new. Bold, muscular filmmaking from a legendary talent.”
Check out the video below of the Q&A.
2-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington garnered the highest praise with some speculating he will receive his third Academy Award for his performance. The Hollywood Reporter says of last night’s Q&A: Washington also has a prominent part in the film as Macrinus, a wealthy arms dealer and former gladiator who plots to control Rome. The actor joked during the Q&A, “He’s misunderstood. He’s a nice fellow.”
“He’s trying to use everybody. He’d use his mother, he’d use his own children; he’s already used up his soul, so he didn’t have any left. He’s in bed with the devil,” Washington continued, explaining that Scott made their work easy by building life-size sets as they shot in Malta. “When you would walk around, you were in Rome, and it seemed like 10,000 extras and horses. It was make-believe, it was play, it was fun; just put the gear on, put the dress on and go, that’s the way I look at it. I’m putting this dress on, these rings and I’m going crazy.”
Still a hard pill to swallow, Scott lost Best Director Oscar to Steven Soderbergh for TRAFFIC. Best Picture and Actor among others went to GLADIATOR. It took home five awards at the 73rd Academy Awards, and was nominated for an additional seven.
GLADIATOR II opens in cinemas on November 22 and is rated R for Strong Bloody Violence.
