Paul Mescal completes his transition from sensitive metrosexual heartthrob to box office beefcake in Ridley Scott’s sequel to his award-winning sword and sandal epic Gladiator, from 2000.
The new film is another polished, action-packed, historical blockbuster from the directorial powerhouse, who turns 87 this month and shows no sign of slowing. It picks up the family story and the saga of a decaying empire 16 years after Marcus Aurelius’s democratic “dream of Rome” has gone sour.
