Gladiator II, Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel to the 2000 historical epic film, is everything fans could hope it would be and more.
Note: This review contains minor spoilers.
Developments for a sequel to the first Gladiator film took place as early as 2001, in the form of either a prequel or sequel. Scott always desired to make a sequel to tie up loose ends and answer many of the unanswered questions left open, particularly regarding the fate of Lucius Verus, the son of Maximus Decimus Meridius and Lucilla.
Taking place 16 years after the original movie, Gladiator II focuses on Lucius (Paul Mescal), now a married man under the alias “Hanno” with his wife Arishat (Yuval Gonen) in Numidia. Marcus Aurelius’s dream of Rome failed to come to fruition and the mighty civilization is now ruled by eccentric twin emperors Geta and Caracalla (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger, respectively). When the Roman army invades and captures Lucius’s home, he is sold into slavery and forced to fight as a gladiator, under the tutelage of Macrinus (Denzel Washington). Upon learning he will be able to seek vengeance against the Roman general Acacius (Pedro Pascal) who led the siege of his home, Lucius is motivated to fight. A classic revenge story in the spirit of the original.
It’s a perfect plot for a sequel, and after watching the film, fans will appreciate the decision to make a sequel over a prequel. The story is far more impactful and gives a healthy dose of acknowledgment to the first film in the form of short clips, returning actors, and Lucius’s fighting style. In particular, it was heartwarming to witness the return of Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, the daughter of the former Emperor. In Gladiator II, we learn that Lucilla deliberately sent Lucius, her son, very young at the time of separation, into hiding to not be discovered by Rome during a time in which he was unable to assume his rightful place as its new leader.
Macrinus, like Proximo before him, is a slave trader with his own interests in mind. But rather than have a character arc in which he redeems himself and becomes a good man by siding against tyranny, Macrinus actively conspires to become the tyranny. The twins in charge of Rome are almost cartoonish in their bloodlust. Due to their youthfulness, they are prime targets for manipulation. This is in spite of their power, intimidating demeanor, and the menace of the Praetorian Guard.
Each of the character’s paths and desires leads to carnage near the end of the film, with plenty of combat and exciting games throughout that fans will look back on with fondness. To avert an all-out war, Lucius and Macrinus duel in a final confrontation.
While nothing could ever top the original, this experience is absolutely worth watching. Of all the film’s achievements, from quality sets and costumes to memorable action sequences to the iconic music that gave the first picture such an outstanding impression, Gladiator II definitively concludes the story in a cohesive duology, completing the narrative of its most important characters and cementing the fate of Rome.