Written by Sara Carabini
Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington are seen engaging in a grand arena battle in the initial preview of Ridley Scott's upcoming movie Gladiator II.
Paramount Pictures will release this historical drama in cinemas on November 22.
This film serves as director Scott's sequel to his 2000 masterpiece Gladiator, which starred Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix and won five Academy Awards, including best picture. The Hollywood Reporter recently featured Mescal in its list of 10 performers shaping Hollywood’s new A-list, alongside names like Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Jenna Ortega. According to one industry insider, “Every director adores Paul Mescal."
A story meant to be continued..
In ancient Rome, Gladiator II takes place several decades after the events of the first movie and focuses on Lucius (Mescal), the grandson of former Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius and the adult son of Emperor Commodus. Lucius, now living with his family in Numidia, is captured and enslaved after a Roman general named Marcus Acacius leads an invasion. Inspired by Maximus (portrayed by Crowe in the original Gladiator), Lucius decides to become a gladiator. One moment in the trailer features a voiceover cautioning Lucius that the war will engulf him, while swords are drawn in anticipation of fierce gladiator battles.
In a featurette about the new movie, Scott mentioned, "It might be even more remarkable than the original." He also mentioned that even though it's been over twenty years since Gladiator, the sequel is "definitely worth waiting for."
The original Gladiator was the second-highest grossing film of 2000, generating over $465 million in global box office revenue (equivalent to $848 million today).