Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel, “Gladiator II,” has stormed into the Oscar race following its first screening in Los Angeles, per variety.com. The film, a follow-up to the 2000 Best Picture winner, has ignited excitement among AMPAS and SAG voters, positioning Scott and his star-studded cast as strong contenders for the upcoming Academy Awards.
The sequel, which takes place 16 years after the original, follows Lucius (Paul Mescal), the grandson of Rome’s former emperor Marcus Aurelius. Lucius, now living in Numidia with his family, is thrust into slavery by Roman soldiers led by General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal). Forced to fight as a gladiator, Lucius must navigate the treacherous political landscape under the rule of the young emperors Caracalla and Geta (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger).
Early reactions from the Los Angeles screening have been overwhelmingly positive. Jillian Chilingerian from OffScreenCentral declared, “Engrave Denzel Washington’s name on the best supporting actor Oscar for ‘Gladiator 2’ right this instance.” KTLA contributor Scott Mantz praised the film as “an epic sequel” with “great action, amazing visual effects, stellar performances across the board.” Freelancer Simon Thompson described it as “the richest feast in epic action set pieces and deliciously ribald treachery.”
Matt Brennan of the L.A. Times added to the acclaim, calling the film “absolute sicko sh-t” and dubbing it “the ‘we are so back’ of bloody costume epics.” Such high praise has bolstered the film’s Oscar prospects, with Scott potentially eyeing his long-awaited Academy Award for Best Director. Paul Mescal, who received his first Best Actor nomination for “Aftersun” (2022), could find himself back in the race, while Denzel Washington, already a two-time Oscar winner, might join the elite club of three-time acting winners.
Paramount Pictures is heavily backing Scott’s awards campaign, alongside other contenders like the Robbie Williams biopic “Better Man” and the Munich Olympics drama “September 5.” Despite some inconsistent critical reception in recent years, “Gladiator II” could be Scott’s best effort since “Black Hawk Down,” potentially excelling in both technical and major categories.
•Paul Mescal plays Lucius and Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius in Gladiator II from Paramount Pictures/Aidan Monaghan
