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The first reactions to the most eagerly awaited sequel of the year arrived after the first screening.

On Friday (October 18th) Gladiator 2 premiered in Los Angeles at a screening introduced by lead actor Paul Mescal.

In Ridley Scott’s sequel to his 2000 epic, whose trailer revealed a hidden plot detail, Mescal plays Lucius, the son of Lucilla, played by Connie Nielsen.

The film, which stars Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn, takes place years after the events of the first film, in which Russell Crowe played the role of Maximus. It follows Lucius as he enters the Colosseum after his homeland has been conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now run Rome with an iron fist.

While Scott’s recent films, including Napoleon And House of Gucci, After receiving mediocre reviews, the filmmaker seems to be back on top Gladiator IIwhich received an enthusiastic response after its premiere.

But is it better than the first film?

Conflicting views were shared on this Discussion about filmAndrew J. Salazar says the film lacks “the emotional punch” of the original. However, there seems to be a consensus that the film is an exciting sequel, with journalist Scott Mantz calling it “an epic worthy of its predecessor.”

The screening, attended by journalists and awards voters, catapulted Washington straight into the Oscar race, and there was some backlash, including Offscreen Central’s @JillianChili claiming that supporting actor Washington could be a contender for his third Oscar.

Drew Taylor from The Wrap said that “Gladiator II is the kind of first-class filmmaking on a grand scale that only Ridley Scott can achieve,” adding, “Everything about it just works.”

Taylor compared the sequel to Top Gun: Maverick how the film manages to “evoke the past while adding something new”

Meanwhile, host Matt Ramos wrote: “Gladiator II is not only arguably the best film of the year, but one of the best of all time. It is one of those films that will reignite your love for cinema. It exceeds all expectations, the performances are outstanding (Denzel just secured another Oscar).”

Gladiator II will be released on November 15th.