Welcome to the Temple of Geek podcast, where we geek out over all things pop culture. In this episode, we’re diving into the highly anticipated sequel, “Gladiator 2”. Join us as we dissect the film’s plot, characters, and historical context.



Ridley Scott directs and produces Gladiator II, a 2024 historical epic and sequel to his 2000 film Gladiator. David Scarpa wrote the screenplay from a story he co-authored with Peter Craig. The ensemble cast includes Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington. Jacobi and Nielsen reprise their roles from the original film, while Mescal takes on the role of Lucius, originally played by Spencer Treat Clark.



In this installment, Lucius, now a prisoner of war, becomes a gladiator under the tutelage of Macrinus, a former slave. Macrinus seeks to overthrow the twin emperors Geta and Caracalla.









Was Gladiator 2 a Sequel Worth the Wait?



“Gladiator 2” has been making waves since its release, and we’re here to share our honest opinions. While the film boasts stunning visuals and a star-studded cast, it has its fair share of quirks and questionable plot points. Is it a worthy successor to the iconic original, or does it fall short of expectations?



JJ kicks off the discussion by expressing their disappointment, feeling that the movie doesn’t live up to the original “Gladiator.” They believe the two movies are so interconnected that it’s impossible to separate them. Maria agrees with JJ, stating that they had a feeling the movie wouldn’t be good. Despite having a good time watching it, they don’t consider it a good movie.



Denzel Washington plays Macrinus in Gladiator II from Paramount Pictures.


Natacia, while admitting to being slightly softer on the movie than JJ and Maria, agrees that it’s not good. They found Denzel Washington’s performance fantastic but felt the movie failed to deliver.



Dissecting the Plot



The film’s plot takes some unexpected turns, with some viewers feeling the connection to the original was forced. Was there a point where the story should have gone differently? How do the characters’ motivations hold up under scrutiny?



The discussion turns to the plot and politics of Gladiator 2, with Maria expressing their anger about the movie’s politics. They felt the movie manipulated the audience’s emotions and failed to deliver a strong emotional core.



Fred Hechinger plays Emperor Caracalla, Pedro Pascal plays General Acacius and Joseph Quinn plays Emperor Geta in Gladiator II from Paramount Pictures.


JJ adds that the movie’s plot relies heavily on the audience’s emotional connection to the first Gladiator, making it intellectually insulting. They found the movie’s attempt to manipulate the audience’s emotions by mirroring scenes from the first movie to be lazy and cheap.



Characters We Loved and Loathed



The cast delivers some standout performances, but are the characters themselves well-written? We discuss Denzel Washington’s nuanced portrayal, the comedic emperors, and the lack of depth in certain roles. Are the characters believable, or do they feel like mere plot devices?



The group then focuses on the characters and performances, with JJ criticizing the character development of Lucius, the protagonist in Gladiator 2. They felt his character was poorly written and his motivations were unclear.