MUST-SEE, BECAUSE
Buzzy awards contender with plenty of horsepower.
GLADIATOR 2
DIRECTOR RIDLEY SCOTT STARRING PAUL MESCAL, DENZEL WASHINGTON, PEDRO PASCAL, CONNIE NIELSEN ETA 22 NOVEMBER
There have sequel ever since Ridley Scott's 2000 original took a tiger-sized bite out of the box office and conquered the Academy Awards. But how do you bring back Maximus? Is it set in the afterlife? So it was that only really got any traction three years ago, as Scott accepted the ‘very obvious idea’ of making it about the son of Maximus (Russell Crowe), from his union with Lucilla (Connie Nielsen, returning here). The script took shape as the legendary director was, like the rest of us, bingeing , and there was his lead – though presumably Paul Mescal shags less and fights more in this sword-and-sandal action epic.
