The buzz advanced for Gladiator II is good to excellent: perhaps surprising for a late sequel to such a beloved film, especially one that requires negotiating a Crowe-shaped hole at its center. (Another appealing aspect of the original, especially in our current age of serialized cinematic universes, is that Maximus has a definitive, cathartic ending.)

Respectfully taking on the heroic role, new leader Mescal has clearly dedicated time to the gym; as a child, his character Lucius canonically saw Maximus fight at the Colosseum, so he considers him a source of inspiration. Lucius also seems to have a similar character arc, going from outcast to slave, to novice gladiator, to deadly sports superstar, finally popular enough to take on the rotten regime.

Maybe the stars have aligned again for some reason Gladiator II to conquer the general public and win prizes. But why do the sequel now? After 15 years of superhero neo-mythology, perhaps there’s an appetite for something that feels a little more grounded and authentic – even if it’s just harkening back to a movie from 24 years ago that broadcast big screen classics from the 1960s that made the film themselves. a sort of thrilling and violent historical spectacle intended to safely entertain the masses.

The fun theory is that last fall, Scott spotted the trend of TikTok videos where women were asking their boyfriends how often they think about the Roman Empire (spoiler: constantly) and decided the time had finally come . Or that he witnessed the success of the BBC’s reboot of a 1990s game show dressed in spandex. Gladiators and I realized that a gap of a few decades was the perfect time where fans who loved the original when they were young could now watch the sequel with their own children. (Although it’s probably not ideal to take a seven-year-old to see a stuntman with a trident get trampled by an angry rhino.)

The least fun theory is that since the original Gladiator triumphed at the Oscars, we witnessed the resurgence of populism around the world. Measured political debate has repeatedly been drowned out by theatrical agitations, and the bread and circus of social media distracts the populace in the garish Colosseum tradition while future emperors attempt to install themselves as all-powerful rulers.

In this geopolitical context, is Gladiator II be a useful warning about handing over responsibilities to selfish man-babies…or just another distraction?

Gladiator II is in theaters from November 15.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share on this subject? Contact us and tell us more. This Christmas, you can make a lasting change in a seller’s life. Buy a magazine from your local street vendor every week. If you can’t reach them, buy one Vendor Support Kit.