Gladiator II, Ridley Scott’s sequel to his 2000 Oscar-conquering epic, is due in cinemas in November, but the promotional reel offers the first look proper at Paul Mescal, who has stepped into Russell Crowe’s sandals.
Mescal plays Lucius, son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and the late Lucius Verus, who remembers watching the doomed heroics of Crowe’s Maximus in the first movie. Inspired by his courage, the enslaved Lucius vows to defeat new preening emperors Caracalla (Joseph Quinn) and Geta (Fred Hechinger).
While Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix will be stepping aside for Gladiator 2, Connie Nielsen returns to the role of Lucilla for the upcoming film, and Derek Jacobi will play Gracchus again. Gladiator 2 stars include Paul Mescal as Lucius, Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius, Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta, Denzel Washington as Macrinus, and Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla.