MOVIE NEWS – Paul Mescal hopes that this fall will bring a phenomenon similar to last summer. At that time, Oppenheimer and Barbie hit theaters simultaneously, and rather than diminishing each other’s chances, they surprisingly boosted one another. Audiences made it a sport to watch both films in a short span, and this double success became known as the Barbenheimer effect.

Paul Mescal, the lead in Gladiator II, believes a similar impact could be achieved with his new film, which is being released in the US at the same time as the musical Wicked. Wicked is a reimagining of The Wizard of Oz, and Mescal thinks these two highly anticipated films represent contrasting poles just like Barbie and Oppenheimer, potentially leading to another double success.

“I think Wickediator doesn’t really roll off the tongue, so I prefer the term Glicked, following the Barbenheimer pattern,” Mescal told Entertainment Tonight. “It’s hard to find two more different films, but a pairing like this has worked before. I’m rooting for people to flood the theaters during the premiere week and recreate the Barbenheimer magic.”

Gladiator II is set twenty years after the events of the first film, and according to Mescal, the creators have used refined and tasteful means to establish new proportions fitting for a worthy sequel. “Of course, we honor the lasting values of the first part, but we also explore new directions, aiming to give even more, effectively doubling the stakes. By this, I mean we step up the action and continue the story with political nuances.”

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Mescal summarized the essence of the story: “It’s about a very angry young man’s drama, forced to become a gladiator, who then takes on the mission to bring order to the crime and moral corruption engulfing Rome.”

Meanwhile, the first trailer for Gladiator II has been released, and the internet is abuzz, although there are critics as usual. Some questioned on X (formerly known as Twitter) why the song No Church in the Wild by Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) and Jay-Z is in a period adventure film. Many felt it completely ruined the atmosphere, while others argued that a rap song could help bridge the ancient story to modern audiences. It was also pointed out that the song might not actually be in the film, as we’re only at the trailer stage. Some speculated that the rap song might be due to Denzel Washington’s involvement, who plays a key character in the film, a mysterious arms dealer who enters high politics.

(Gladiator II – Release Date: November 14, 2024)

(Wicked – Release Date: December 5, 2024)