Prepare to be entertained. 

The first reactions from an early screening in Los Angeles for Gladiator II are out, and they are overwhelmingly positive and full of excitement, with Oscar predictions for director Ridley Scott, Paul Mescal, and Denzel Washington. 

Gladiator II is the highly anticipated sequel to 2000’s Gladiator and continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. The story centers around Lucius Verus (Mescal), who, as a child, was sent away by his mother Lucilla (Connie Nielsen in both the original and the sequel) for his own protection after witnessing the tragic battle at the Colosseum involving his uncle Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) and his hero Maximus (Russell Crowe, who won the Academy Award for this role). Now a grown-up man, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people. The powerhouse cast includes Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger.

“GLADIATOR II is a true epic and Ridley Scott’s best in years. Paul Mescal is a great action star without sacrificing his indie grit, a worthy heir to the throne. Denzel Washington EATS every line and costume without ever overplaying,” posted AwardsWatch’s Erik Anderson, a member of the Critics Choice Association. 

Jillian Chilingerian of Offscreen Central shared: “Ridley Scott places you in the action of the arena centered on legacy and honor amping up the blood, battles, and biceps for something so deliciously cinematic and Machiavellian. Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal, & Joseph Quinn certified movie stars… it’s one of the few modern blockbusters that actually looks GOOD visually.”

Griffin Schiller of FilmSpeak raved, “Ridley Scott returns to the Colosseum to prove to the world that HE’S. STILL. GOT. IT. Absolutely BUZZING after #GladiatorII! An EPIC Shakespearean tale of hope, futility & power w/in a crumbling system. Denzel FEASTS in a showstopping, Machiavellian performance. What a picture!”

Scott Menzel of We Live Entertainment was praised for the epic action and battles: “Gladiator II is Ridley Scott’s best film since The Martian. A big, bloody and bad ass action spectacle that builds upon the legacy of the original. The film showcases beautiful set pieces and a lot of epic battles. Paul Mescal shines. Denzel Washington chews up the scenery quite a bit here and looks like he is having the time of his life here.”

Discussing Film’s Andrew Salazar was impressed by Ridley Scott, saying, “Ridley Scott’s direction is unhinged, framing this as an epic Roman opera. The visuals get the job done. 

Atom, a movie review outlet, couldn’t contain their excitement in their post: “EPIC MASTERPIECE!! Emotional with huge, STUNNING action. Ridley Scott’s perfect crescendo. Paul & Pedro deliver the goods. A sweeping, arousing saga that fists your a**e. Not just another sequel, it’s the BEST movie ever! A fitting end setting up what’s next.”

Now, hear about the movie from director Ridley Scott and his cast as they talk about making the sequel and how they felt after stepping into the epic world of Gladiator II. 

Watch the “Making of an Epic” featurette: https://youtu.be/De7NovCSt5Y 

“There’s an excitement coming back to the Roman Empire,” says Scott, who won many accolades for his work in 2000’s Gladiator in the featurette. 

Adds Paul Mescal, who leads the cast in the sequel as main character Lucius, “It’s not lost on me what we as a cast of actors and Ridley are stepping into.” 

Connie Nielsen, the only returning cast member from the original film (as Lucilla), shares, “To walk out in that arena for the second time was pretty amazing.”

“It’s grand in scope, with sophisticated characters and storytelling,” says Pedro Pascal, who plays Roman general Marcus Acacius. “It’s all the things that fill in the word ‘epic.’” 

“This is the biggest film I’ve been on,” raves Denzel Washington, whose performance as Macrinus has earned universal acclaim. “Cecil B. DeMille [The Ten Commandments, Cleopatra] on steroids.”

In cinemas Dec. 4, Gladiator II is distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Connect with the hashtag #GladiatorII and tag @paramountpicsph