“Sick thing!” The first reactions are igniting for Gladiator 2

Following the first screening of the film, the first reactions already make Ridley Scott's sequel a serious candidate for the Oscars.

Watch out for a movie event coming up! Gladiator II promises to be an absolutely epic sequel, sure to be huge at the box office and potentially dominating at the upcoming Oscars. That's Variety's analysis after the film's first-ever screening in Los Angeles last night, in front of an audience made up of Academy Awards voters and other members of the Hollywood Actors' Union (SAG).

From what we understand from the first responses to the film posted online immediately, Gladiator 2 is clearly not a failed sequel. Gladiator II would even be more of the type to burst the screen. The spectators present in the room last night were blown away, particularly by the performances of the actors, Denzel Washington in mind.

“Engrave Denzel Washington's name for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor now ” writes Jillian Chilingerian of the site OffScreenCentral.

The other reactions welcome the achievement of Ridley Scottwho pulled out all the stops. KTLA contributor Scott Mantz found the rest “epic“claiming that the whole film is based on”incredible visual effects, stellar performances from the entire cast and breathtaking action“.

Independent journalist Simon Thompson summarizes Gladiator 2 speaking of a “copious feast of epic action scenes and deliciously vicious betrayals…

Finally, Matt Brennan of the LA Times goes further and finds that the film is “something mentally ill! Finally, we are back in the days of bloody costume epics!”

The first rave reviews which still require confirmation with upcoming press screenings.

But Variety already estimates that Gladiator 2 – as Gladiator (in 2000) – could raid the 2025 Oscars. And beyond the nominations already in sight for Paul Mescal And Denzel Washingtonthe statuette for Best Director which still eludes Ridley Scott (3 nominations) could well come back to him this time. He who had been beaten by Steven Soderbergh (for Traffic) in 2000 will clearly be one of the favorites at the next ceremony. And Variety points out that Francis Ford Coppola ended up winning the Oscar for Best Director with The Godfather 2 (1974) after being beaten for The Godfather (1972)…

Gladiator 2 will be released on November 13 in cinemas in France.