Gladiator II is set to hit theaters, with Paul Mescal taking on the role of a vengeful gladiator in the ancient Colosseum. The newest trailer for Ridley Scott’s sequel was released on Monday.
Mescal portrays an adult Lucius Verus II, the nephew of Emperor Commodus, originally played by Joaquin Phoenix. After enduring slavery, Lucius returns to Rome, but instead of seeking to rule, he aims for vengeance and power as a gladiator more than twenty years after the events of the first Gladiator film.
“You have something in you, rage. Never let it go,” advises Macrinus, a wealthy power broker and arms dealer played by Denzel Washington, as he recruits Lucius into his collection of gladiators.
Lucius harbors his own ambitions for revenge and power, striving to ascend the ranks of gladiatorial combat. “Rome has taken everything from me. But I will have my vengeance,” he asserts to Macrinus, expressing a desire to confront Roman General Marcus Acacius, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, who earlier enslaved him.
Ultimately, Lucius declares, “I don’t fight for power. I fight to free Rome from men like them,” as Macrinus, Marcus Acacius, and others who govern Rome with brutality observe from an elaborate Coliseum set constructed in Malta.
Scheduled for a major release by Paramount Pictures on Thanksgiving, Gladiator II also sees director Scott reportedly exploring concepts for a potential Gladiator 3 in the future.
The initial trailer garnered an impressive 215 million global views across platforms within just a few days.
Gladiator II is set to premiere on November 22, marking over two decades since Scott’s original Gladiator, which won five Academy Awards, including best picture and best actor for Russell Crowe. The new film also features performances from Joseph Quinn and Connie Nielsen.