Are you not entertained?
The first trailer for Gladiator II, Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel to his 2000 Oscar-winning epic, has finally arrived. Over two decades after Russell Crowe’s Maximus fought in the Colosseum, the story shifts to Lucius, the son of Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla, now portrayed by Paul Mescal.
Paul Mescal steps into the role of Lucius, who witnessed Maximus’ heroics as a child. Inspired by Maximus’ courage, the enslaved Lucius vows to take down new tyrannical emperors, Caracalla (Joseph Quinn) and Geta (Fred Hechinger). The trailer opens with a flashback to the first film, with Lucius recalling the day a slave could defy an emperor.
Lucius finds a mentor in Denzel Washington’s Macrinus, a ruthless slave owner. Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius, a skilled general and potential foe. The trailer hints at intense confrontations, including a showdown with an actual rhino in the arena. Pascal describes his character as “a very good general, which can mean a very good killer,” highlighting the brutal nature of Roman warfare. Mescal earned the nickname “Brick Wall Paul” for his intense physical preparation.
Ridley Scott, now 86, proves he hasn’t lost his touch for epic storytelling. The trailer features stunning visuals of swords clashing, battles, and the grandeur of ancient Rome. The soundtrack, composed by Hans Zimmer, includes a reimagined version of ‘No Church in the Wild’ by Kanye West and Jay Z:
