Paramount Pictures has released the first official trailer for Gladiator II, offering an early look at the sequel to the original 2000 epic historical drama that starred Russell Crowe in what is probably his most memorable role ever: Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman general who becomes a slave, and then a gladiator, following his betrayal by Commodus, the son of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Maximus, who died at the end of the first film, may appear in flashbacks during the sequel, according to the trailer for Gladiator II, which is directed by Ridley Scott and set to premiere in theaters on November 22.
The cast includes:
- Paul Mescal (Lucius)
- Pedro Pascal (Marcus Acacius)
- Denzel Washington (Macrinus)
- Connie Nielsen (Lucilla)
- Joseph Quinn (Emperor Geta)
The official trailer:
A new poster for the film:
Scott on how he chose actor Paul Mescal for the lead role, per a first look from Vanity Fair:
“When I watch anything, I tend to be clocking who’s interesting,” the director says. “It’s just in my DNA. And so, watching a TV show that’s not really my kind of TV show almost four years ago, I said, ‘Who’s this guy?’” As the possibility of Gladiator II became more and more real, Scott arranged a Zoom with Mescal while the actor was performing A Streetcar Named Desire in London. “I met with him and he said, ‘Of course, I’d love to do it.’ And that was it,” Scott says. “We were away and running with the ball. He was a special find. He was absolutely perfect.”