Gladiator II continues the story of the struggle for power over ancient Rome. Sixteen years have passed since the slave Maximus (Russell Crowe) stood up to corruption. His vanquishing of the then-emperor left a vacuum symbolized by an empty throne. In his place, two new rulers have ascended: Geta (Joseph Quinn) and his brother Caracalla (Fred Hechinger). Much like their predecessor, they yearn for conquest and spectacle. As such, they’ve sent their top general Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) to Africa on a mission of invasion. During battle, he captures a mysterious soldier going by the name Hanno (Paul Mescal). When the ambitious Macrinus (Denzel Washington) purchases Hanno as a gladiator, the two devise a scheme to exact revenge together.
Fox Troilo is an entertainment journalist at LRM (Latino Review Media) based in Washington, D.C. He covers a diverse range of topics within the arts and entertainment sector, with a particular focus on film and cinema, including critiques of movies as a member of the Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association. Fox's insights into the intersection of entertainment and technology, such as AI and machine learning, further enrich his reporting.