Sixteen years since Maximus Decimus Meridius set Rome free, tyranny reins again and a new gladiator steps into the ring to shake off the shackles of oppression.

This time it’s Hanno (Paul Mescal) who sets out to avenge his wife Arishat (Yuval Gonen) after she’s murdered by Roman legions. He becomes the prized asset of proximate Proximo Macrinus (Denzel Washington) who’s leveraging the popularity of the Games for political influence. Meanwhile the miraculously still-alive Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and Gracchus (Derek Jacobi) are plotting to overthrow the new emperors, weirdo brothers Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger).

On the list of films not exactly crying out for sequels, Gladiator ranks somewhere between Reservoir Dogs and The Last Exorcism Part 2. It’s not that the bloody political machinations of ancient Rome don’t provide ample source material, but making this hinge on the outcome of arena combat presents a significant challenge for any writer not wanting a repeat of Rocky Balboa ending the cold war by punching Dolph Lundgren in the head.

That being said, writer David Scarpa does a pretty bang up job in finding a balance between sameness and differentness. The plot is more complex, and consequently more unpredictable, with Hanno’s motivations changing nearly as often as characters blurt out lines from the first film. And everything from the plot contrivances to the arena battles is pushed to the maximus, making sure we are truly entertained, while losing any semblance that it’s set in the real world. Particularly elaborate battles involving CGI animals are more reminiscent of the arena scene of Attack of the Clones than the original Gladiator.

Mescal anchors the film in a way which is reminiscent of Crowe without being a direct imitation, while Denzel Washington chews the scenery with aplomb. It’s also great to see Nielsen again, whose low profile since the first film seems like something of a loss to cinema.

The octogenarian Ridley Scott directs with energy, coming straight off last year’s Napoleon, which he matches in visual quality, scale and daftness. And while Gladiator 2 seems unlikely to spur a new generation of sword and sandal actioners or unnecessary sequels (mainly because they’ve all been made already) it gives fans more than enough stab for their buck to justify its existence. Gladiator 2, I salute you.