As a history enthusiast who has spent countless hours poring over ancient texts and artifacts, I am thrilled to see Ridley Scott‘s return to the world of Gladiator with Gladiator II. The original film was a masterclass in historical accuracy, and it seems that Scott aims to continue this tradition in the sequel. While I initially had my reservations about the hip-hop heavy trailer and the rhino-riding gladiator, I’ve come to appreciate the unique twist on an otherwise serious subject.
Although the trailer for Gladiator II may lead one to believe it’s a fantastical tale with hip-hop elements and a rhino-riding gladiator, director Ridley Scott aims to clarify that the sequel is not a fantasy. The upcoming film, starring Paul Mescal as an older Lucius (previously portrayed by Spencer Treat Clark), takes us back to ancient Rome, 24 years following the original movie. Not only does it offer an exhilarating story of a gladiator challenging the rulers of Rome, but Scott designed Gladiator and Gladiator II to underscore that ancient history is, in essence, historical fact.
In a conversation with Total Film, Ridley Scott shared one reason behind his decision to direct the sequel to “Gladiator” after 20 years. The director expressed concern that when history is depicted on screen, it can lose its authenticity and be distorted. As a result, he believes people start thinking that historical events like those portrayed in “Gladiator” never actually took place. In his words, “People tend to think of history as something that didn’t occur.” Although the “Gladiator” movies include typical Hollywood flair, Scott reassured viewers that the historical elements in his films are based on real-life events.
Amazingly, this event recurred multiple times. In an effort to breathe life into its past, I’ve sought to transform it from a mere tale into tangible truth, not a whimsical illusion.
In contrast to Ridley Scott’s efforts to make the upcoming Gladiator sequel feel authentic, the initial trailer for Gladiator II faced significant backlash from fans. The trailer revealed too much about the film’s storyline and included Kanye West and Jay-Z’s “No Church in the Wild,” a song that played over scenes of gladiators donning sandals and battling in Ancient Rome. Fans were puzzled as to why this music was chosen, given it likely won’t be part of the actual film. Furthermore, some fans criticized Denzel Washington’s accent in the trailer, as he opted to use his natural American accent for a movie set long before the country’s founding, portraying slave owner Macrinus.
Returning to the Colosseum Was a Dealbreaker for Ridley Scott
Just as you may guess from the title, scenes of Russell Crowe’s Maximus Decimus Meridius standing in the Roman Colosseum are strongly associated with the film Gladiator. For the initial movie, Scott transported production to Rome, combining real sites and sets to breathe life into the ancient city. However, due to Roland Emmerich’s Those About to Die series, the director was compelled to leave Italy while working on the sequel. Consequently, Scott’s art directors constructed massive sets on the island of Malta. To viewers, Gladiator II with its brutal combat in the Colosseum seems inevitable. However, during the early stages of the sequel’s development, Scott contemplated abandoning the location entirely.
According to Ridley Scott, when considering the creative process for Gladiator II, he was concerned about rehashing the formula of the original movie. He ensured that the Colosseum scenes in Gladiator II wouldn’t appear as a mere replica of Russell Crowe’s Maximus era. However, he felt it would be futile to make a sequel without including the Colosseum, as he put it.
“May I return to Rome and visit the Colosseum once more? Can I relive that experience of being a gladiator, just like Russell Crowe did? If not, it seems there’s little purpose in revisiting the place without stepping into the Colosseum again.
Gladiator II
releases in US theaters on November 22, 2024.
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2024-09-14 19:02