REEL | Paul Mescal Keeps It Roman – 'Gladiator II' Echoes Itself

"I will never be your instrument in this life or the next."

Paramount Pictures / Scott Free Productions

Legendary British director Ridley Scott finally revisits his acclaimed swords and sandals historical epic in the long-awaited legacy sequel, Gladiator II. It stars Paul Mescal as Lucius, the grown son of Russell Crowe's departed Maximus and Lucilla (Connie Nielsen reprising her role) who is the rightful heir to the crumbling Roman Empire. His exile as a child to North Africa before being conquered as an adult and sent back as a slave turned champion gladiator mirrors his father's heroic arc.

Lucius' journey back to a corrupt Rome becomes rife with treachery as ruled by twin Emperors (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger) alongside Pedro Pascal as the brave Roman conqueror general and husband to Lucilla—used as a pawn to prop up the pair's decadent rule. There are maybe a few too many parallel new characters echoing those from the first Gladiator as Mescal's brawny leadership anchors the visually dazzling but grisly action forward.

It's ultimately Denzel Washington's scheming Macrinus, a former slave turned arms dealer who buys Lucius and keeps a stable of slave gladiators to further his power in Roman high society, that drives the film's devilish proceedings. Scripted by David Scarpa, the sequel employs its talented cast to fine use but rushes through so many years-long, off-screen character developments that are awkwardly skipped through to quickly advance another typical backdoor political coup plotline.

Gladiator II is a competently made piece of Hollywood franchise studio entertainment but lacks the pure energy and charisma of the 2000 original. Even further, its numerous explicit callbacks, story beats, and dialogue referencing the events of the first film hold it back from forging any path of its own as another extension of Rome's historical downfall. Many of its characters' pursuit of power feel underwritten or vastly fractured in their on-screen development.


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