Paul Mescal plays Lucius and Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius in Gladiator II from Paramount Pictures.

Director Ridley Scott returns to the world of ancient Rome with Gladiator II. Gladiator is an iconic film which made Joaquin Phoenix a star and starred Russell Crowe in this greatest role but this enduringly popular epic didn’t particularly feel like it needed a sequel as it felt pretty complete. Yet here we are. Actually, Gladiator II is a combination of sequel and remake, and has an excellent cast including Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington. Paul Mescal star as Lucius, whose story both reflects and connects to Russell Crowe’s Maximus’ tale. Two members of the original cast return, Connie Nielsen as Lucilla and Derek Jacobi as Gracchus, and while Jacobi’s screen time is brief, Nielsen plays a major role. Yet despite a fiery, Oscar-worthy performance by Denzel Washington and...