The first official look at Gladiator 2 has been revealed, showcasing a brutal and bloodthirsty cast led by Paul Mescal’s Lucius. New images from the highly anticipated sequel, directed by Ridley Scott, feature Connie Nielsen returning as Lucilla, Denzel Washington as Macrinus, Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla, Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta, and Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius.
Set to hit theaters in November, the movie continues the story from the original Gladiator film released in 2000. The plot follows Lucius, who has matured far from his mother in Numidia. Mescal portrays a husband and father who is drawn back into his past when invaders threaten his home. Pascal’s character, a Roman general who trained with Maximus, leads the attack on Numidia. In Rome, two cruel brothers, played by Quinn and Hechinger, rule with an iron fist.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Mescal delves into his character’s disdain for Rome and its corrupt power. “He wants nothing to do with the image of Rome. He wants nothing to do with it other than to tear it apart initially,” Mescal explains. “The Romans were some savage, savage individuals. They would go from continent to continent and just destroy communities and nations. The film doesnā€™t shy away from the kind of brutality of that, and the emperors at the center of it, and this kind of corrupted power that he can see through.”
Gladiator 2 is set to premiere on November 15 in the UK, followed by releases in the United States and Canada on November 22. Stay tuned for more updates on upcoming movies by checking out our guide to 2024 movie release dates.