We Have Our First Look At 'Gladiator II' And It's Time to Get The Hype Train Rolling!
(Vanity Fair) Now, with Gladiator II heading to theaters on November 22, they’re ready to tell the rest of the world where the story picks up in the years after Russell Crowe’s Maximus gave his life, upending the leadership of the decadent and corrupt society. The central character portrayed by Mescal is Lucius, last seen as the young son of Lucilla, Connie Nielsen’s noblewoman from the original movie. Nielsen also returns in the sequel, playing one of the few true-life figures in the otherwise fictional Gladiator storyline, the daughter of the late emperor Marcus Aurelius. In the actual history, Lucilla was a firebrand revolutionary who despaired of the direction Rome took after her father’s demise.
Believe it or not, Gladiator II has been cooking in Ridley Scott's brain for a while now. The version we seem to be getting, though, looks MUCH better than the original concept.
Yup, there was a point where Maximus was going to be brought back to life and fight through the ages as an immortal time warrior. Luckily, this is a direct sequel focusing on the life of Lucius during the corrupt point in the Empire.
Just to set the table, Ridley Scott is obviously a legend in filmmaking. 'Alien', 'Blade Runner', 'The Martian', 'Thelma & Louise' just to name a few of his bangers. And, looking at his late sequel work, I really like 'Prometheus' and think it didn't get a fair rep. However, lets zero in on what he has done since 'Gladiator' ranked(in my opinion) from best to worst.
1. The Martian
2. American Gangster
3. The Last Duel
4. All the Money in the World
5. Kingdom of Heaven (directors cut)
6. Prometheus
7. Black Hawk Down
HERE IS WHERE WE START GOING DOWNHILL
8. Napoleon
9. House of Gucci
10. Matchstick Men
11. Body of Lies
12. Hannibal
13. A Good Year
14. Robin Hood
15. The Counselor
16. Exodus: Gods and Kings
So we're about even for the last couple decades. If I could make any wish, it would be that this coin flip favors Scott because 'Gladiator' is a formative movie for pretty much every person reading this. Excelent action, acting, production value and my god the writing. So many quotable scenes.
“What we do in life, echos in eternity!”
“Are you not entertained?!”
“I will see you again. But not yet, not yet”
"If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!"
I think this means it's time for a rewatch before this movie hits theaters in November.
