Watch the trailer here:
Gladiator II | Official Trailer (2024 Movie) – Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington
Spencer Treat Clark portrayed Lucius in the original ‘Gladiator.’ He is the son of Lucilla (played by Connie Nielsen) and the nephew of Commodus, the famous villain character depicted by Joaquin Phoenix.The sequel picks up years later with Lucius residing in Numidia, located in North Africa. His mother had sent him there during his childhood to keep him beyond the reach of the Roman Empire. As the story unfolds, Lucius is drawn back to Rome as a gladiator, where he confronts new adversaries and reunites with his mother.
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The film boasts an impressive supporting cast, including Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius, a Roman general who once trained under the legendary Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe’s character in the original film). Denzel Washington plays Macrinus, a wealthy powerbroker in Rome who owns a stable of gladiators, while Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger take on the roles of the twin emperors of Rome.
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Ridley Scott shared that he was captivated by Mescal’s performance in ‘Normal People,’ leading him to cast Mescal as the lead after just a brief conversation. Mescal underwent significant physical training for the role, with co-star Pascal noting the difficulty of facing him in the arena. Pascal even nicknamed him “Brick Wall Paul” due to his formidable presence, admitting that he would rather endure a fall from a building than fight Mescal again as he had become more fit and talented.
The original ‘Gladiator,’ released in 2000, starred Russell Crowe as Maximus. The film was a massive success, winning several Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe. Hans Zimmer, who was nominated for Best Original Score for ‘Gladiator,’ returns to compose the music for the sequel.
