Let’s just get the obvious out of the way; I believe it is common consensus that Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II didn’t quite live up to the lofty narrative excellence of his first film. I too was pretty disappointed when the credits rolled, but there are still select segments of the film that I enjoyed thanks to the fantastic set and costume design as well as art direction.

This art and making of book is a very comprehensive coverage of all that, plus one more important item – Ridleygrams ! Ridleygrams refer to the detailed color storyboards illustrated by the director himself as a pre-production tool for many of his films, and a very generous number is showcased in this book; certainly one of the bigger reasons why I decided to pick this up.

Book synopsis – The official behind-the-scenes companion to Sir Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel to Gladiator

This definitive volume takes readers deep into the extraordinary production of Gladiator II. Exploring the revolutionary special effects and breathtaking artistry that went into re-creating the grandeur of ancient Rome on a truly epic scale, Gladiator II: The Art and Making of the Ridley Scott Film features storyboards, unit photography, concept art, character and costume sketches, and an array of props and ephemera, offering a comprehensive look at the creative process behind one of the most eagerly awaited sequels of our time.

With a foreword by Sir Ridley Scott and exclusive interviews with the cast—including Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, and more—as well as insights from production designers, armorers, and the visual effects team, the book grants an insider’s look at this cinematic epic and is an essential companion to the film.

(image above) A fitting inclusion of the painting by Jean-Léon Gérôme titled ‘Pollice Verso’ at the start of the book; this art work was a key reference for the aesthetic visual of the first film, and certainly applies to the sequel as well.

(image above) When the trailer for the film was first released, I made the observation that the filmmakers are likely to be using the paintings of the Pre-Raphaelite artist Lawrence Alma Tadema as visual reference, and this was indeed the case as the production designer Arthur Max noted in the book.

Loving all the Lawrence Alma Tadema / John William Waterhouse flourishes I'm seeing in the #GladiatorII trailer. Movie's going to look amazing – https://t.co/84H05CI1Hy pic.twitter.com/G4KT8qRzsh

— blauereiter (@blauereiter) July 9, 2024

Gladiator II might have been a flawed sequel to Ridley Scott’s original, but there is still much to admire and enjoy about the excellent production value of this epic film. This art/making of book is the perfect volume to appreciate that, especially if it is still going for a very low price of $11 ( at the time of me writing this post ). Recommended.

“Gladiator II: The Art and Making of the Ridley Scott Film” comic book details :

– Dimensions – 10.7 x 1.2 x 11.8 inches
– Hardcover cover, 224 pages
– Full color

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