Future of Gladiator film franchise revealed just days after release of Gladiator II

A HOTLY anticipated sequel film can feel a little like queuing for a rollercoaster.

There’s the nerves that it won’t be as good as the first time you rode it, the feeling that perhaps you shouldn’t even get on in case you want to get off straight away — and the adrenaline the moment it starts.

This is exactly how I felt building up to seeing the long-awaited Gladiator II — released 24 years after the original.

With Sir Ridley Scott

once again directing the Colosseum extravaganza, could it possibly be as good as his first Roman spectacular?

Well, it’s not. But, boy, does it put up a good fight.

In Gladiator world, it’s 16 years since the demise of Maximus (Russell Crowe, who features  in flashbacks to the original).

This is the story of Lucius (a beefed up Paul Mescal who having witnessed the death of his slave-turned-Gladiator dad is sent away to Africa, where as an adult he fights for his freedom.

During this unsuccessful attempt, his wife is killed by Marcus (Pedro Pascal) and he is dragged to Rome where he is picked to fight in front of the skin-crawling young emperors and brothers Caracalla and Geta under the teachings of Macrinus (Denzel Washington)

And he makes a damn fine job of keeping them entertained — by fighting giant monkeys, rhinos and even sharks after the Romans managed to fill a colosseum with sea water and Great Whites.

There’s plenty you have to laugh off watching this mad yet somehow majestic film ­— with some ropey dialogue and a glaring continuity issue straight after Mescal bites a CGI monster monkey that makes you concerned about who Sir Ridley is hiring.

But Denzel Washington is the gem here, playing the best baddie in years.

Like a Roman version of Othello’s Iago, he mostly seems to want to disrupt things just for s**ts and giggles.

Mescal’s acting energy is mostly saved for his fight sequences, where he steps out of being that sultry guy from Normal People

and into leading man shoes.

And there’s a smattering of Brit stars to watch out for, including Matt Lucas and Sir Derek Jacobi.

Yes, its camp and sometimes ridiculous. But this adrenaline-pumping film will have your heart racing.

I’d certainly queue up again for another ride.

By Dulcie Pearce