Why Are Fans Bombing Reviews of the Gladiator II Trailer?

The Gladiator II trailer, released recently, has sparked a wave of controversy and negative reactions on YouTube, dividing fans over several aspects unrelated to the film itself.

Last week marked the debut of the first look at the highly anticipated sequel to Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning classic. The teaser, which was unveiled on 9 July, features Paul Mescal portraying Lucius, the son of Lucilla, originally played by Connie Nielsen. The cast also includes notable names such as Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius, Denzel Washington as Macrinus, and Joseph Quinn, famous from Stranger Things, as Emperor Geta.

So far, the trailer has amassed over 15 million views, attracting nearly 150,000 likes but also garnering over 360,000 dislikes. Much of the backlash is directed at the trailer’s editing, which many fans feel reveals too much of the film’s plot.

One comment on the YouTube trailer reads, “Can’t believe I just saw the whole movie in three minutes with a rap edit, no need to waste a couple hours in a theatre.”

However, the majority of the dislikes are rooted in the trailer’s choice of background music—Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild.” Critics question the appropriateness of a rap song for a film centered on the Roman Empire. A viewer on X commented, “Whoever decided to add a Jay-Z song into the Gladiator 2 trailer should be fired forever." Another YouTube user sarcastically remarked, “Great choice of music…All that’s missing is Dom Toretto drifting round the Colosseum in a modified chariot.”

Many fans express disappointment, stating that the song “absolutely ruins the vibe,” and question how they went from Hans Zimmer’s iconic score to “freakin’ Spotify music.”

Addressing this, it’s worth noting that Hans Zimmer isn’t returning to score Gladiator II. In an interview with Curzon, Zimmer explained his decision, saying he didn’t want to face comparisons to his original work. “I liked the idea of moving on and not getting compared to my own work,” he stated. “Gladiator takes a special place in my heart. I think it’s completely undisciplined. It wouldn’t have mattered if I had written the most amazing score, because the music in the first movie sticks in people’s hearts.”

Zimmer’s former assistant, Harry Gregson-Williams, has taken on the responsibility of scoring the sequel.

Another focal point of criticism is the casting of Denzel Washington as Macrinus. Several comments, unfortunately veering into racist territory, criticize Washington’s New York accent for a character in a historical film. This ignores the fallacy that British accents offer historical accuracy for Ancient Rome. One comment on the trailer reads, “No one would have ever guessed Denzel playing himself in a Roman Empire movie with a Jay-Z soundtrack.” Another added, “Is Denzel playing a time traveler? He’s acting like someone from 2024 who’s gone back to ancient Rome for a laugh.”

Defenders of the film have pointed out that one of the trailers for the original Gladiator film also featured music that wasn’t period-appropriate, like Kid Rock’s “Bawitaba.” They argue that criticisms of Washington are unfounded. One viewer on X stated, “People hating on Gladiator 2 because of Denzel’s accent are stupid. Do they realize that people in Ancient Rome did not speak in British accents?”

The plot synopsis for the film sets an intense stage. “Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.”

Gladiator II is set to hit theaters on 15 November.

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