Last Friday, Paramount Pictures hosted the premiere screening of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II (set for release on November 22) on its studio lot, followed by additional press screenings this week. These initial showings sparked a wave of enthusiastic responses, with critics hailing the film as a worthy successor to the original. Many noted Paul Mescal’s remarkable physical transformation, having significantly bulked up since his role in Normal People. But beyond this early buzz, how does the film truly hold up, especially in the Oscars race?

This question was the focus for IndieWire’s Screen Talk hosts, Anne Thompson and Ryan Lattanzio, as they discussed Gladiator II ahead of its review embargo. The sequel takes place two decades after the events of the first film—winner of Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe at the 2001 Oscars—and follows Maximus’ son, Lucius (played by Mescal), who is brought to Rome from Africa by Roman General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal). Once in Rome, Lucius is forced into the life of a gladiator under the control of Macrinus (Denzel Washington), a former slave turned power broker fighting for influence over emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger).

The film has its highlights, particularly Washington’s standout performance as the cunning, sadistic Macrinus, a role he embraces fully and one that could resonate strongly with SAG voters. However, Anne doubts that Gladiator II has strong Oscar potential, even in technical categories, describing it as “a grim ode to masculinity”—a signature of Ridley Scott’s style. Ryan, on the other hand, praises Quinn and Hechinger’s performances, which bring a strange, unsettling energy reminiscent of Joaquin Phoenix’s character in the original film. However, he feels the movie could have leaned further into its peculiarities, despite featuring CGI-enhanced creatures like bloodthirsty sharks and rhinos.

Connie Nielsen returns as Lucilla, Lucius’ mother, though her role is limited, with sparse dialogue and minimal character development. Washington appears to be the film’s best shot at an Oscar nomination; if nominated, it would mark his tenth, with previous wins for Training Day (Lead Actor) and Glory (Supporting Actor). More info about Gladiator II