The fans are concerned that Gladiator 2 may be a cash grab.

Ridley Scott is all set to take us back to Ancient Rome with his upcoming Gladiator 2. The previous installment was critically and commercially successful with 5 Oscars including Best Picture and Actor. New details from the upcoming project have been recently revealed at the CinemaCon 2024 and surprisingly, the fans are not very convinced about it.
Russell Crowe played Maximus in Gladiator
Gladiator is one of the most significant films in Ridley Scott’s career. The film boasted some iconic performances from Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, and others. The sequel is set to present a new cast including Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Joseph Quinn. However, the plot details of the sequel suggest that it may be a cash grab rather than an honest continuation.

Gladiator 2 looks very different than the first film

Denzel Washington will be one of the leads in Gladiator 2
Ridley Scott‘s last film Napoleon with Joaquin Phoenix did not enjoy a pleasant run with massive criticisms for historical inaccuracies. The fans were hopeful that the sequel to Gladiator may mark his comeback. Surprisingly, some fans are not happy with the latest details from Gladiator 2 hinting that the film bears little resemblance to Russell Crowe‘s masterpiece.

ScreenRant reports that an exclusive new trailer for Gladiator 2 has been shown at CinemaCon 2024 for the attendees. According to Culture Crave, it gives us a few significant details for the upcoming film. The Denzel Washington starrer is set 20 years after the first film. Paul Mescal is playing Lucius, Commodus’ nephew who idolizes Maximus and decides to give up his nobility.
A still from Gladiator
Lucius is set to face off against Pedro Pascal‘s character of a Roman general, who is reduced to the ranks of Gladiator for his defiance of the higher ones. While the Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn will play the role of Emperor Caracalla, Washington will play a shadowy figure with a grudge against the Roman Empire, operating everything from the dark.

The original Gladiator focused on Russell Crowe’s Maximus’ revenge story against Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus. The latter secretly murders his father, wrongfully overtakes the throne, and also kills Maximus’ wife and son on his refusal to show loyalty to the new Emperor. It looks like the fans also expected a historical revenge drama in the second installment.

The fans suspect Gladiator 2 to be a cash grab

Pedro Pascal will be an antagonist in Gladiator 2
We have seen several notable movies that can be easily termed as cash grabs made to capitalize on the popularity of their predecessors. The story details from Gladiator 2 make the fans think that the upcoming film is solely made to recreate the worldwide success of the first part. Although it is connected to the first film through Lucius, a certain section of fans are not happy.

There is a high demand on X for the film to be rebranded rather than be a project under the Gladiator umbrella.

It is also to be noted that some audiences are looking forward to the film to be a potential comeback for Ridley Scott. Moreover, it should also be remembered that this film, being an original story is not burdened with the task of being historically accurate. If the screenplay is executed well as an honest continuation with breathtaking visuals like the 2000 film, Gladiator 2 can be a major blockbuster.

Gladiator 2 will be released on November 22, 2024, while Gladiator can be streamed on Paramount+.