Brutal viewer response to Gladiator sequel trailer

Fans are fuming over one element in the trailer for the Gladiator sequel since it dropped on YouTube this week.

Fans got a first look at director Ridley Scott’s long-awaited sequel to the 2000 historical epic Gladiator this week – and it seems many didn’t like what they saw.

The first full-length trailer for Gladiator II was released on YouTube several days ago, where it’s since been revealed that it’s received an overwhelming amount of “dislike” reactions.

As of Friday morning, the trailer – which has so far been viewed almost 14 million times – has received 123,000 positive ‘like’ reactions, compared to 236,000 ‘dislike’ reactions.

The number of dislike reactions on YouTube videos were publicly hidden by the company in late 2021 to curb harassment, but they are still visible to anyone using a simple browser plugin.

Paul Mescal in Gladiator II.

Clock that ratio.

Based on the top comments under the video, it seems there’s one possibly culprit for the negative reactions: Scott’s decision to score the trailer with Kanye West and Jay-Z’s rap hit No Church in the Wild.

It seems that for many, soundtracking a film set in roughly 180 AD with a platinum-selling hit from 2012 was a step too far.

“When the rap starts playing, I thought Vin Diesel was going to show up with his V8 in the arena,” reads the top comment on YouTube.

Another viewer joked they were “making an emergency call to Hans Zimmer,” the legendary film composer who scored the first film.

“We went from Hans Zimmer to freakin’ Spotify music,” another complained.

“Whoever put that song in the trailer needs to be sent to arena with lions,” said another.

The long-awaited sequel’s set for release in November.

Denzel Washington also stars.

The Gladiator sequel is set for release on November 22, with

The original Gladiator film was a massive commercial and critical hit, taking in well over half a billion dollars at the global box office and scooping up five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for leading man Russell Crowe.

Crowe isn’t involved in the sequel, with Irish actor Paul Mescal instead taking on the leading role, alongside stars including Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington and Connie Nielsen.

And while he won’t appear on screen, Crowe revealed that he met with Scott to find out what the legendary director had planned.

“We’ve had dinner and talked about it all, so I know roughly how he’s shaping the story,” he told Nova FM’s Fitzy and Wippa in 2023.

“It’s not a remake, and it’s not a direct sequel. It’s not like it’s the day after, it’s 30 years later,” he revealed.

Originally published as Brutal viewer response to Gladiator sequel trailer