The release of Gladiator 2 has become the center of media attention very quickly. With the release date of the project being just around the corner in the US and it having already been released in many countries, it is not surprising that fans cannot stop talking about the upcoming film. There are a lot of expectations from the movie.
Following up on the greatness of its 2000 predecessors, the film is expected to change the way fans see the first film, in a good or a bad way. Considering all that it has riding on it, it is unfortunate to see that other films are being forgotten in the flashing lights of Pedro Pascal’s film.
A Queer Release Timing
Daniel Craig’s recent film, Queer, has broken many boundaries and societal expectations for the actor. The film is directed by Luca Guadagnino, best known for Challengers and Call Me By Your Name. Being an A24 production, it follows a complex love story between a Lee, played by Craig, and a younger discharged American Navy serviceman.
It puts Craig in a completely new light for his fans, going from the overtly, sometimes toxic, masculine James Bond to a queer character in an indie film. While the concept of such films isn’t anything new, the actor has pushed a lot of professional boundaries in this role, and the interviews leading up to it showcase this perfectly.
Although the story and the cast of the project are impressive, it is a smaller production, being more focused on creative expression than flashy marketing. The same cannot be said for Pedro Pascal’s Gladiator 2, which has managed to get acclaim and fancy marketing on its side.
Both films are yet to be released in the US. However, they have already been released in the UK. Unfortunately, the hype of Pascal’s film seems to be causing Craig’s film to get lost in the mix.
Gladiator 2 vs. Queer—A Friendly Fire
Recently, Pedro Pascal posted a story on his Instagram account (via X), which has caused a stir among fans in the best way possible. The actor has been posting pictures of the Gladiator 2 poster quite a lot in the past few days as marketing for his upcoming film. However, among the many posters, there was one video that stood out in the most hilarious way possible.
Pascal posted a video of the film’s poster plastered on a bus stop. At first glance, the story could easily be just that. However, upon further inspection, one would notice that Daniel Craig is also present in the shot, sitting at the bus stop. The beloved actor is holding a smaller, lesser flashy poster of his film, Queer, trying to market it alongside the Gladiator sequel, which is naturally proving to be difficult.
Although fans are clearly more focused on Pascal’s film, there is something to be said about how his film would perfectly fit well with Craig’s if watched back to back. They completely oppose each other’s themes, similar to Barbie and Oppenheimer. While their competition would certainly not be as big, it would make perfect sense considering the essence of both projects.
Where Craig’s film is slower and more character-driven and would leave its viewers thinking, Pascal’s is full of cut-throat action that would leave its viewers at the edge of their seats. This would make them the perfect combination.
Queer is releasing in US theaters on November 27, 2024, and Gladiator 2 is releasing in US theaters on November 22, 2024.
