The Film Experience

by Nick Taylor

You the readership may have forgotten we here at The Film Experience are aware of current releases, or really anything besides Nicole Kidman. And who can blame you! It’s perfectly understandable, and the only way to shock the system out of this belief is to proposition you with lots and lots and lots of men in a swords and sandals epic. That’s right, the subject of today’s Yes No Maybe So is Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, set for release in November 2024. Trailer and first reactions below the cut . . . .

YES

Don’t those costumes look incredible? Janty Yates has been Ridley Scott’s go-to costume designer for decades, but it’s still exciting to see her back in the arena that won her an Oscar in 2000 over a very imposing lineup.
The Colosseum itself looks cool as fuck. Bigger, grander, more imposing and accomodating of pageantry without being an opulent space in itself.
Denzel Washington does not seem even a little interested in period immersion, given his American accent. But his charisma is so formidable that I don’t really cares. Also, clearly the best drip of the cast?
The ANIMALS. Gonna be cool as hell to see the gladiators forced to play battleship in waters infested with . . . . sharks? I am ready to be entertained. Also hilarious to learn the shark tank has historical precedent.
Paul Mescal’s physicality has been a real gift to him as an actor. The man’s dexterity at conveying character details through body language and posture is really something, and I’m very curious to see what he’ll do with a role with such physically demanding requirements. Also, very exciting to see Mescal test his mettle as an actual movie star.

It’s weird that Pedro Pascal is barely in the trailer despite being second-billed, right? Not a great sign for him after a couple failed attempts at mainstream movie stardom already.
I’m not sure how revealing it is to compare the Gladiator II trailer to the original Gladiator trailer, but that one certainly got across its tone and plot succinctly with one less minute than this did. Are there so many moving pieces here? If there are, will they really matter?
Not a huge red flag, but I’m shocked to see Hans Zimmer hasn’t been recruited for the sequel. Was he really that busy? If he’s sweating making ten scores a year and still didn’t have time for Ridley . . . . what does this mean for the economy.
Not a no at the movie, but the corner of the internet populated with folks calling foul on Denzel’s accent and the trailer’s soundtrack as film-ruining immersions breaks get a quick, gleeful thumbs down from me.

MAYBE SO

The Martian is the most recent Ridley Scott film to get real critical and box-office success behind it. Other than that - and looking further back than 2015, Scott’s filmography has been uneven for years. He might be the most major element of the film I’m nervous about, but he’s got chutzpah, so let’s see what happens.
The “No Church in the Wild” needle drop was surprising and kind of a fun choice! If this is a sign Gladiator II is aiming more for blockbuster entertainment than weighty character dramatics, I’m fine with it. All the Money in the World and House of Gucci suffered badly from bloated self-importance, and if Scott’s cut down on that shit, then thank fuck. Whether it’ll work is another question entirely.
Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger sharing Caleb Landry Jones duties as creepy, pasty villains in Cersei Lannister cosplay. Could easily be too garish or Joaquin-lite but I’m interested in what their dynamic will be.
Will Connie Nielsen actually get something to do? If nothing else, it’s nice to read interviews from the rest of the cast about how she encouraged them not to be worried about imitating the original Gladiator or living in its shadow.

All in all, I’m intrigued by Gladiator II. I want it to be good, and there’s enough intriguing parts in the trailer to make me lean towards YES. Let it be a fun time, for Ridley and the audience. Let it be the opportunity Paul Mescal needs to emerge as the head of his generation’s crop of white boys, glorious yet cruelly hampered by the fact that Denzel Washington is one of the best to ever do it. But yeah, I hope it's fun!