We are just a few weeks away from one of the biggest releases of the year, “Gladiator II.” The original Gladiator won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2000, and its sequel could finally bring Ridley Scott his long-overdue Best Director award, and possibly earn Denzel Washington his third acting Oscar.
“Gladiator II” is set 16 years after the events of the first film. The story follows Lucius (Paul Mescal), the grandson of Rome’s former emperor, Marcus Aurelius, and the son of Lucilla and Maximus. Lucius now lives with his wife and child in Numidia. However, when Roman soldiers led by General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) invade, he is forced into slavery and must fight as a gladiator under the command of the young emperors Caracalla and Geta (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger).
Ridley Scott’s epic sequel, “Gladiator II,” is expected to be one of the major contenders at next year’s Oscars, which promises to be a fiercely competitive event. The film was recently shown for the first time to an audience of AMPAS and SAG voters in Los Angeles. With the long-awaited follow-up to the five-time Oscar-winning Gladiator (2000), the Hollywood legend Ridley Scott, who has been nominated four times before, is once again in the running for the Oscar he has long coveted. But he’s not alone: his stars, Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington, are also strong contenders in the acting categories. Mescal, who received his first Best Actor nomination just two years ago for Aftersun, may once again find himself in the top category for his lead role in Gladiator II. Washington, already a two-time acting Oscar winner, could be in the race for a third, potentially joining the elite group of actors with three acting Oscars, including Frances McDormand, Jack Nicholson, and Daniel Day-Lewis. Washington will likely be competing in the Supporting Actor category, where villainous roles have traditionally done well—think Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men), Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds), and the late Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight).
Early reactions are promising and largely positive. Jillian Chilingerian from OffScreenCentral wrote, “Engrave Denzel Washington’s name on the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Gladiator II right now.” Scott Mantz (KTLA) called it an “epic sequel,” noting that it has “great action, stunning visual effects, and outstanding performances across the board.” The film will hit theaters on November 15.