Denzel Washington takes the fight to the arena in new Gladiator II trailer
Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington raise their swords for an epic arena battle in the first trailer for Ridley Scott’s sequel movie Gladiator II. Paramount Pictures releases the historical drama feature in theaters on Nov. 22. Starring Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn, and Connie Nielsen, the film is director Scott’s follow-up to his 2000 epic Gladiator that starred Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix and collected five Oscars, including best picture.
Set several decades after the events of the first movie in ancient Rome, Gladiator II centers on Lucius (Mescal) — the grandson of former Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius and now the grown-up son of Emperor Commodus — who resides with his family in Numidia. After ending up in slavery following an invasion led by Roman general Marcus Acacius, Lucius follows the inspiration of Maximus (played by Crowe in the original Gladiator) and competes as a gladiator.
“Remember Lucius, the war will consume you,” a voiceover warns at one point in the trailer as swords are outstretched to prepare for brutal gladiator duels. The teaser also has Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian, Narcos) stepping into the sandals of Marcus Acacius.
Scott directed Gladiator II from a script by David Scarpa. Scott, Lucy Fisher, David Franzoni, Michael Pruss, and Douglas Wick serve as producers.
Paramount debuted footage from the sequel at CinemaCon in Las Vegas earlier this year, where Scott said in a featurette of the new film, “It is possibly even more extraordinary than the first.” He added that despite arriving more than two decades after Gladiator, the follow-up feature is “well worth the wait.”
Gladiator II is a big swing for Paramount and comes as the studio’s parent company is set to be acquired by a consortium led by Skydance. The sequel saw its budget expand over the course of a shoot that was put on pause last year amid Hollywood’s strikes. The first Gladiator was the second-highest grossing title of 2000, surpassing $465 million at the global box office ($848 million today).
Paul Mescal is known for his breakout role in the series Normal People, in addition to his work in the features Aftersun, All of Us Strangers, and Foe. The Hollywood Reporter recently included Mescal on its list of 10 performers who comprise Hollywood’s new A-list, alongside such stars as Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Jenna Ortega. Said one executive, “Every filmmaker loves Paul Mescal.”
A rebellion will rise Nov. 22. Tie those togas, lace up those sandals, and get in the chariot, loser — we’re going back to the arena.
The first trailer for Ridley Scott’s long-awaited sequel Gladiator II is providing fans the first battle-heavy glimpse at what’s in store in the historical epic, which takes place in the 20-plus years since the events of the Russell Crowe-led 2000 original.
It introduces Paul Mescal’s grown-up Lucius, nephew of the late Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) and the son of Lucilla (once again played by Connie Nielsen). After the events of the first film, he was sent by his mother to live on the northern coast of Africa to shield him from the corruption and violence of Rome. He grew up there, but as an adult, he finds himself thrust back into Roman life — and the arena — when forces led by General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) invade his home in Numidia and eventually take him captive.
The trailer also introduces Denzel Washington’s Macrinus, a very wealthy arms dealer who uses gladiators for sport, as well as the film’s two main antagonists: megalomaniacal twin emperors Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) and Geta (Joseph Quinn).
Legacy cast member Derek Jacobi is also reprising his role as Gracchus. May Calamawy (Moon Knight, Ramy), Lior Raz (Operation Finale), Peter Mensah (Avatar), Matt Lucas (Wonka, Bridesmaids), and more round out the cast.
Scott returns once more as director, and several other artists who brought the original Gladiator to life are returning to his sequel, as well. This includes cinematographer John Mathieson, production designer Arthur Max, and costume designer Janty Yates. All the Money in the World and Napoleon scribe David Scarpa penned the screenplay, with a story by Scarpa and Peter Craig.
The trailer for Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated Gladiator II dropped on Tuesday, setting the stage for the return to ancient Rome. Written by David Scarpa, the sequel to the Russell Crowe-led 2000 historical epic showcases the world 20-plus years later.
Paul Mescal now steps into the role of Lucius, whom Spencer Treat Clark portrayed in the original movie. Lucius is the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and nephew of Commodus, who was originally played by Joaquin Phoenix. The plot follows Lucius, who as a child witnessed the death of Maximus (Crowe) at the hands of his uncle.
He was then sent by his mother to live on the northern coast of Africa to shield him from the corruption and violence of Rome. Lucius is forced into captivity when his home is invaded by General Marcus Acacius and his forces, making him fight in the Colosseum. As an adult, he gets thrown back into Roman life and into captivity after his home is conquered by General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) and his forces, who lead Rome with an iron fist.
Lucius is then made to battle in the Colosseum, where he must fight for the future of the Roman people. The trailer also introduces Denzel Washington as Macrinus, who is a wealthy arms dealer entangled in the spectacle of gladiators — and the film’s two main antagonists: twin Emperors Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) and Geta (Joseph Quinn).
Derek Jacobi is reprising his role as Gracchus, while May Calamawy, Lior Raz, Peter Mensah, and Matt Lucas round out the star-studded cast. Scott, 86, returns to direct the follow-up to his award-winning Gladiator. And his seasoned team reprise their roles: cinematographer John Mathieson, production designer Arthur Max, and costume designer Janty Yates are all back.
The original film won five Oscars and raked in $461 million worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing film that year. Mescal, 28, reflected on the legacy of Gladiator during an interview with Entertainment Tonight.
“It’s an immense honor — it’s not lost on me,” he said. “That film is hugely important to a lot of people across the world. And for the great Ridley Scott to kind of pass the baton on to me is something that, like, my drama school self or even the version of myself that was 15 watching the film for the first time, could never have imagined.”
The Normal People actor said he took on the role as Lucius with a “great deal of pride.” “There was a lot of work that went into it,” he said of his physical transformation. “Lots of lifting heavy things … lots of squatting, pushing, pulling. We didn’t kind of change the wheel with it, it was all kind of pretty standard in that regard, but I was keen for it not to look false or kind of overly aesthetic in any way.”
Pascal, 49, meanwhile, called his co-star “Brick Wall Paul.” “It’s brutal, man,” he told Vanity Fair. “He got so strong. I would rather be thrown from a building than have to fight him again. To go up against somebody that fit and that talented and that much younger … Outside of Ridley being a total genius, Paul is a big reason as to why I would put my poor body through that experience.”
Mescal said the entire experience overall was a “pivotal” moment for him. “I think for a lot of us, especially the younger cohort of the cast, we would easily say that it’s a job that changed our lives,” he marveled.
“We’re kind of waiting with bated breath, but the thing that I keep coming back to is, we’ve done it. We’ve gone and made it and nobody can take that away from us,” Mescal said. “And we had the king that is Ridley Scott at the helm — it’s amazing.”
The All of Us Strangers star said the “Roman” nose he hated all his life is also what helped him get the role. “My nose just is kind of Roman,” Mescal told Vanity Fair. “So it’s useful in this context. The nose that I absolutely hated when I was in secondary school — and used to get ribbed for — became very, very useful when Ridley needed somebody to be in Gladiator II.”
“I remember watching it with my dad and being absolutely blown away by it,” he told ET of his admiration for the original film. “It’s been in the cultural zeitgeist for 20 years, and there’s not a lot of films that have done that, especially in this genre,” he added. “So there’s a healthy amount of pressure but also a healthy amount of confidence from the people that made the film. We are excited to kind of add the next installment to a film that has been and will continue to be incredibly popular.”
Gladiator II hits theaters Nov. 22.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Weekly, Vanity Fair
