Gladiator II has only just arrived in theaters, but the sequel's cinematographer, John Mathieson, is making it clear that he didn't enjoy his latest collaboration with filmmaker Sir Ridley

Director Ridley Scott has been accused of ‘lazy’ filmmaking practices by Gladiator 2 cinematographer John Mathieson, sparking a debate over the evolution of Scott’s filmmaking style.

"The filmmaker stares down the world as it rolls forward, a chariot holding all we could be," writes Richard Newby in an essay on the epic sequel.

Ridley Scott plans on making a Gladiator threequel, and his greatest inspiration is The Godfather trilogy. The director told USA Today that “Yes, it’s true,” Gladiator III is on the way, and his ideas for it trace back to the mafia drama by Francis Ford Coppola.

Gladiator II' will hit theaters 24 years after the first film came out (2000) and won five Oscars the following year.

The cinematographer for Gladiator 2 branded its director Ridley Scott "impatient" in a recent interview. John Mathieson, who worked with the renowned British director on both 2000's Gladiator and its 2024 sequel,

Gladiator II’s cinematographer has accused Sir Ridley Scott of lazy filmmaking. John Mathieson, the award-winning director’s long-time cinematographer, accused Sir Ridley’s method of becoming “rushed”.

John Mathieson gave a reflective interview speaking of how the director had 'changed' and was now 'quite impatient' on set adding this had had a negative impact on the finished product.