In recent years, Ridley Scott has given us his own take on Napoleon's fate, the grandiose "House of Gucci", and the excellent but under-watched "The Last Duel". The director consistently releases a new film at least every two years, and in the coming months, he has several lined up. Among them is the highly anticipated "Gladiator 2", which will arrive in theaters this fall.
Ridley Scott admits that this project is particularly sentimental for him. And it's no surprise - he has been working on the second "Gladiator" for much longer than usual. When the original film starring Russell Crowe took the world by storm in 2000, Scott immediately began thinking about how to revive the main character and create a sequel.
Ridley Scott Confident in "Gladiator 2's" Success
In recent interviews kicking off a two-month promotional marathon for "Gladiator 2," Ridley Scott has once again shown his unflinching confidence in his work. Just as he aggressively defended "Napoleon" from criticism by historians and film experts, he's already praising "Gladiator 2" long before its release:
It's the best thing I've ever done. One of the best things
- he clarified moments later in an interview with Empire magazine.
And I have a few really good ones under my belt. The film is full of full-on, brutal action.
Ridley Scott is known for rarely finding fault with his own works - and if he does, he doesn't voice it publicly. During the promotion of "Napoleon," he was asked whether there were any films in his career that he liked less. The unflinching director didn’t hesitate to respond in an interview with CBS News:
I love everything I've done. Every-thing. Everything. And I think you're all wrong!
- he added, referring to projects that weren’t as well received by critics and audiences.
Fortunately, there are few such films in Ridley Scott’s filmography. Which group will "Gladiator 2" fall into? We'll find out in mid-November. For now, Ridley Scott has released the first trailer and a few promotional shots. The film will pick up where the original left off, promising spectacular scenes, bloody fights, and grand battles. Paul Mescal will take on the lead role, alongside Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington. Based on the trailer alone, it's clear that Scott is going for an extreme version of Rome - gladiator fights on rhinoceroses, contemporary rap music, and costumes that answer the question: "More fantastical or historically accurate?".
