Paul Mescal Takes Over the Colosseum in New Look at 'Gladiator II'

Gladiator 2, One of the most anticipated sequels of the year continues preparing for its arrival in theaters by revealing a new look.

This new installment from Paramount Pictures is set several decades after the events of the acclaimed Gladiator of Ridley Scottwho returns as director. The lead role is played by Paul Mescal (Aftersun, Normal People, All of Us Strangers), bringing to life the adult version of Lucius, a role that was played by Spencer Treat Clark in the original installment.

Incidentally, Scott and his production team set up their own Roman Colosseum for the film, a setting we see in part in this new look at Mescal during a battle inside the Colosseum.

And about bringing the plot back to the Amphitheater, Scott tells Total Film:

“You go through all the questions. Can I go back to Rome? Can I go back to the Colosseum? Because we did it with Russell [Crowe]. And the answer is: you better be in the Colosseum because it's called Gladiator. I don't know how you do it without going back to the Colosseum, otherwise there would be no point in doing it.”

The media shares a new official image that is available at the end of this note.

Gladiator II It takes place two decades after the events of the first film in ancient Rome; focuses on Lucius (Mescal), grandson of the former Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius and son of the emperor Commoduswho resides with his family in Numidia. After ending up in slavery following an invasion led by the Roman general Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal), Lucius wants his own revenge story and competes as a gladiator after being inspired by the exploits of Maximus (Russell Crowe) as a child.

The rest of the great cast is made up of Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things) like Emperor Geta, Fred Hechinger (The White Lotus, Thelma) like the Emperor Caracalla, Rory McCann (Game of Thrones), Matt Lucas (Wonka), and the returns of Connie Nielsen like Lucilla, and that of Sir Derek Jacobi like Gracchus

In recent days it was revealed that the Cinematographic Association (MPA), body in charge of granting age ratings to feature films based on their content, from the five largest Hollywood studios: Paramount, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, Disney Studios, and Warner Bros. and the streaming service, Netflix, Gladiator 2 got the R rating by:

“Strong bloody violence.”

Gladiator (2000) from Scott, winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, followed the story of Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe), a former general who is forced to be a common gladiator under the rule of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), a self-proclaimed patricide emperor of Rome.

SYNOPSIS:

“From legendary director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue and revenge set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now rule Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and ​​honor to restore the glory of Rome to its people.”

David Scarpa write the script for Gladiator 2marking a new collaboration with Scott, after having written the script for All the Money in the World.

Scott directs and produces the sequel launched in November 2018. Michael Pruss is also a producer, along with Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher. Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald are executive producers.

Several members of the original film's behind-the-scenes crew have returned to work on the sequel, including director of photography John Matieson, while Arthur Max and Janty Yates return to production design and costume design, respectively.

Paramount set the release date for Gladiator 2 by November 22, 2024.

New look (via Total Film):