Paramount Pictures has officially unveiled the first trailer for Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated “Gladiator II,” featuring Paul Mescal in the lead role.
The sequel is produced by Ridley Scott, Michael Pruss, Doug Wick, and Lucy Fisher. It is set to hit theaters on November 15 in the UK and November 22 in the US.
Joining Mescal in the cast are Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn, Connie Nielsen, and Fred Hechinger. “Gladiator II” comes 24 years after the original film, which starred Russell Crowe and won five Oscars, including Best Picture.
The trailer provides the first glimpse of Paul Mescal as Lucius, the son of Lucilla (played by Connie Nielsen) and the late Lucius Verus. Lucius, inspired by the heroic actions of Maximus (Russell Crowe) from the first film, is now enslaved but determined to overthrow the new emperors, Caracalla (Joseph Quinn) and Geta (Fred Hechinger). The trailer also showcases appearances by Tim McInnerny, a returning Derek Jacobi, and features plenty of action with swords, arrows, ships, crowds, and even a massive bloodstained rhinoceros that Lucius must confront.
The preview also teases a powerful soundtrack composed once again by Hans Zimmer, with a snippet of Kanye West and Jay Z’s “No Church in the Wild” reworked to fit the film’s intense atmosphere. The lyrics “Tears on the mausoleum floor / Blood stains the Colosseum doors” resonate with the film’s dramatic themes.
Filming for “Gladiator II” began last June but faced interruptions due to the actors’ strike in the US. Production resumed in December and wrapped up in January, with some additional reshoots taking place in Sussex last month.
The film’s release coincides with the debut of the movie adaptation of the musical “Wicked,” which has moved its release date to avoid clashing with “Moana 2.” This has sparked speculation of a marketing phenomenon similar to last year’s “Barbenheimer,” though a name for the potential double bill—such as “Wickiator” or “Gladicked”—has yet to be decided.
“Gladiator II” promises to be one of the most talked-about films of the fall, and fans eagerly await its release to see Paul Mescal step into the iconic sandals once worn by Russell Crowe.
