Who will win the duel between Gladiator and Wicked?
Much like last year's box-office confrontation between the Barbie and Oppenheimer films, the new duel is making its way to world cinema.
On the one hand, Wicked is an adaptation of the famous Broadway musical of the same name, which tells the story of the musical, with the second part to be released at a later date. Wicked features a host of stars, including Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum.
On the other hand, Gladiator II is a sequel adapted from Ridley Scott's 2000 historical epic Gladiator. The cast includes Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn.
In pitting two very different films against each other, the battle between Wicked and Gladiator II has many similarities with Barbenheimer. Gladiator II and Oppenheimer are historical dramas directed by authors, while Wicked and Barbie are IP-based films whose target audience is predominantly female.
This comparison between Wicked and Gladiator II and Barbenheimer makes for an exciting new box-office confrontation. But it's also a way of revitalizing the film industry in the face of the dangers posed by online platforms.
(MH with JcM/Source: Variety/Photo: DPA/ Captital Pictures/Can Nguyen)