Part 6/9:
The trailer's editing also included quick flashes of violence and excitement—such as a combat scene on the blood-stained Coliseum floor—that some viewers found excessive or misplaced in a Gladiator sequel. The result was a disjointed tone that failed to evoke the grandeur or emotion fans cherished about the original.
Why the Resistance?
Part of the skepticism stems from an overarching fatigue with Hollywood's obsession with franchise-building at the expense of originality. Fans remember Gladiator as a standalone masterpiece, not as the first chapter of a new cinematic universe. The decision to revive it as a sequel, especially with a style that seems to pander to modern sensibilities, feels like a betrayal.