“My name is Maximus Desimus Meridius, commander-in-chief of the northern armies, general of the Felix legions, faithful servant of the true emperor Marcus Aurel. Father of a murdered son, husband of a murdered wife, and I will have my revenge in this life or the next. » Released in 2000, “Gladiator”, directed by Ridley Scott, is a masterpiece which won the Oscar for best film and best actor.
A quarter of a century after the release of the first film, the British filmmaker is at the helm of “Gladiator 2”, whose first bloody images were revealed on Thursday by Paramount at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. And this despite the uncertainties weighing on the future of this major Hollywood studio.
“Even more extraordinary than the first”
The trailer shows Paul Mescal, the star of the new epic, fighting in a Coliseum filled with rhinos, bloodthirsty baboons and even Roman warships, while a shadowy advisor played by Denzel looks on Washington. The film “is possibly even more extraordinary than the first,” assured director Ridley Scott in a video broadcast at the Caesars Palace casino, a place of circumstance with its settings evoking ancient Rome.
After Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, whose characters succumb in the original feature film, a new generation of actors takes over in this second part, scheduled for November in American theaters. Paul Mescal plays the gladiator Lucius. This nephew of the evil emperor appeared briefly as a child in the first film. Pedro Pascal plays an army general. And the mysterious character played by Denzel Washington seems to be plotting to overthrow the Roman Empire.
Uncertain future of Paramount Pictures
“Rome must fall. I just have to give him a helping hand,” he says in the trailer. The images were received with enthusiasm by the audience. Enough to bring some comfort to the heart of Paramount Pictures, one of the oldest Hollywood studios, currently facing an uncertain future.
Its parent company has just started negotiations for a merger with the Skydance studio. And this, while the year 2024 promises to be a lean period for all studios. The actors’ and writers’ strike that paralyzed Hollywood for six months last year delayed the production of many films, which will translate into a drop in the studio’s revenues at the global box office.
A slew of outings
Paramount executives nevertheless delivered an optimistic presentation Thursday at the CinemaCon trade show during which studios unveil their future releases to American theater operators. They notably announced several new films such as “Quietly: Day 1”, “Smile 2” and “Blue & Company”, a new comedy in which actor Ryan Reynolds must help a child responsible for rescuing a multitude of creatures imaginary.
Disney, for its part, promoted “Moana 2”, which is scheduled for release in the United States in November, or “Vice-versa 2”, in theaters in June. Barry Jenkins, Oscar-winning director of “Moonlight,” previewed “Mufasa: The Lion King,” a prequel to one of Disney’s most famous animated films, scheduled for release in December.
Disney has also revealed images of Harrison Ford making his debut at Marvel in “Captain America: Brave New World” but also of “Deadpool & Wolverine” with the essential Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. This is Disney’s first “R-rated” superhero film: children under 17 will need to be accompanied to see it. Unusual for a company with a very family-oriented image, the film contains explicit dialogue and sexual references.