Ridley Scott's epic historical action film "Gladiator II" left Chinese audiences stunned after its Nov. 19 premiere with brutal portrayals of Colosseum duels and Rome's political power struggles.

A poster for "Gladiator II." [Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures]

A sequel to the Oscar-winning "Gladiator" (2000), the film stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Connie Nielsen, Denzel Washington and Derek Jacobi, and tells the story of Lucius, the son of Maximus and Lucilla (Nielsen) and portrayed by Mescal, becoming a gladiator after his home is invaded by the Roman army led by General Marcus Acacius (Pascal). Seeking revenge against Acacius, Lucius fights as a gladiator under Macrinus (Washington), a former slave plotting to overthrow the Roman co-emperors Geta and Caracalla (Quinn and Hechinger).

Russell Crowe, who won Best Actor at the 73rd Academy Awards for his portrayal of the Roman general-turned-gladiator Maximus Decimus Meridius in "Gladiator," does not return in this new installment except in flashback memory scenes. Derek Jacobi and Connie Nielsen reprise their roles of Gracchus and Lucilla from the original film.

A sequel to "Gladiator" was discussed as early as 2001, with ideas ranging from the Roman afterlife to different historical periods. Development stalled after DreamWorks sold the rights to Paramount Pictures in 2006. The film was finally announced in 2018, with Mescal being casted for the lead role in January 2023 and the rest of the cast being announced soon after. Filming ran from June 2023 to January 2024, with a five-month hiatus due to Hollywood labor disputes.

"Gladiator II" delivers intense brutality and spectacular duels, pitting humans against fierce animals like tigers, feral baboons and a rhino. Its dramatic portrayal of two emperors, political conspiracies and power struggles in ancient Rome also left Chinese audiences breathless during its recent premiere in Beijing. 

Due to the nature of the plot, Chinese posters for the historic epic prominently feature a warning against children seeing the film, a practice similarly used for previous blockbusters that were deemed too violent or frightening, such as "Alien: Romulus."

Chinese performers dressed as Roman gladiators pose for photos at the "Gladiator II" premiere in Beijing, Nov. 19, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures]

The film hits Chinese and American theaters on Nov. 22 and has already grossed over $87 million worldwide in some advanced markets. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 74% of 202 critics' reviews have been positive, with the the critics' consensus reading: "Echoing its predecessor while upping the bloodsport and camp, 'Gladiator II' is an action extravaganza that derives much of its strength and honor from Denzel Washington's scene-stealing performance."

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