Gladiator II lands on OTT: Stream Paul Mescal-led Ridley Scott's historical epic on THIS platform, but there's a catch

Nearly 45 days after its theatrical release, Gladiator II has finally made it to OTT but not for all subscribers. The historical epic is available for rent on Prime Video at Rs. 389. Ridley Scott helmed and produced Gladiator II, the follow-up to his 2000 film of the same name. David Scarpa, who co-wrote the story with Peter Craig, wrote the film, which Scott Free Productions produced and Paramount Pictures released. Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington are among the actors included. Jacobi and Nielsen are back for another installment, while Mescal takes Spencer Treat Clark's place. In the role of the exiled Roman prince Lucius Verus Aurelius, Mescal plays the part of a prisoner of war who, after becoming a gladiator for the former slave Macrinus, plots to depose the twin emperors Geta and Caracalla.

Plot overview

The legendary Ridley Scott directs Gladiator II, a continuation of the epic narrative of power, intrigue, and retribution set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing his uncle's murder of the beloved hero Maximus, the cruel emperors who now rule Rome with an iron fist force Lucius (Paul Mescal) to enter the Colosseum. As the fate of the Roman Empire hangs in the balance, Lucius, consumed by wrath, must draw courage and honor from his history if he is to restore Rome's glory to its people.

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Some reviews praised the acting, Scott's direction, the sets, and the action scenes, while others criticized the picture for its saccharine tone, resemblance to its predecessor, and historical mistakes. Global box office receipts of $435.2 million fall short of the $700 million needed to break even. The 82nd Golden Globe Awards nominated it for two prizes: Best Supporting Actor for Washington and Cinematic and Box Office Achievement. The National Board of Review also listed it among the top 10 films of 2024.

Characters spotlight

Played by Paul Mescal, Lucius Verus Aurelius, aka "Hanno," is the grandson of the late emperor Marcus Aurelius and the son of Maximus Decimus Meridius, the main character from the main film. Lucius' mother, Lucilla, took him away from Rome when he was a little boy to keep him safe from assassins after his father died. Nearly fifteen years have passed since they last saw each other. After the Roman army invades Lucius's home in Numidia and murders his wife, they capture him and take him prisoner. Sold into slavery, he becomes a gladiator in the Colosseum. He plans to exact his vengeance on the Romans and Acacius, their general. Spencer Alfie Tempest, portraying a young Lucius, wears Treat Clark's visage from the original film.

A Roman commander who served under Maximus and Lucilla's husband, Pedro Pascal plays the role of commander Acacius. Though he maintains a lavish lifestyle in Rome, he is often absent on imperial military campaigns. Despite leading an army to conquer Numidia and storm Lucius' house, he becomes disillusioned with war and refuses to sacrifice any more soldiers for the emperors. Lucilla and Acacius conspire to overthrow the emperors, but Acacius finds himself imprisoned and compelled to battle as a gladiator in the Colosseum. Pascal characterises Acacius as a highly skilled general, implying that he is also a skilled killer, while Lucius perceives him as a symbol of everything he holds dear.

Based on the life of Marcus Opellius Macrinus, Denzel Washington plays the role of Macrinus, a freed slave with ambitions to rule Rome. Together with Lucius, he tends to a stable of gladiators. He also supplies the Roman armies in Europe with food, oil, and weaponry as an arms broker. Scott characterized him as incredibly cruel to the arena warriors, while Washington elaborated by stating his desire to become emperor and his willingness to go to any lengths to achieve it. In his description of Macrinus, a mobster who began his life as a prisoner of war, transformed into a gladiator, and eventually gained his freedom, Scott also made note of Macrinus' "twinkle" of bisexuality.

Played by Joseph Quinn, Emperor Geta was a younger brother of Caracalla and a co-emperor of Rome. Scott described them as flawed from birth, comparing them to Romulus and Remus, yet Geta appeared to be the more reasonable and rational of the two. The Beavis and Butt-Head adult animation on MTV also served as an inspiration. Being mindful not to mimic Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of Commodus in the original, Quinn drew influence for his role from The Fifth Element (1997) and Mission: Impossible III (2006), where Philip Seymour Hoffman played Owen Davian. John Lydon was a source of inspiration for Geta's style.

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