Gladiator 2 debuts "epic" first footage, featuring a brutal Paul Mescal battling man-eating monkeys, a terrifying Joseph Quinn, and gladiators fighting sharks
Apr. 12, 2024Paul Mescal has entered the arena
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Gladiator 2 has unveiled its first trailer behind closed doors at CinemaCon, and it’s apparently a seriously epic reintroduction to Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning world.
PerVariety, the trailer begins with Paul Mescal’s Lucius Verus as a nobleman who has been forced to renounce his privileged position to become a gladiator. Among the epic action sequences debuted are Mescal fighting a rhino, man-eating baboons, and Pedro Pascal.
The publication also suggested that the tyrannical emperors – played by Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger – may be even more unhinged that Joaquin Phoenix’s in the original. Denzel Washington’s character also looks set to be a key player in the sequel, manipulating Mescal in his revenge against the empire. “Rome must fall. I need only to give it a push,” he apparently says.
If that wasn’t enough,another report from a journalistin attendance says it also feature gladiators fighting sharks and “a spit-talking Joseph Quinn”. Meanwhilea third suggeststhat the footage is just as epic as you might be hoping for.
The plot of the sequel is primarily focused on Mescal’s Lucius, who is the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and nephew of Emperor Commodus (Phoenix). Scott previously toldRotten Tomatoesthat we’ll meet Lucius as a man living “in the wilderness” after having been separated from his family for 15 years.
The extended cast is pretty star-studded too, featuring Washington, Pascal, and May Calamawy. Reprising their roles from the 2000 original are Nielsen and Derek Jacobi.
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Gladiator 2 will be released on November 22. For what else to watch, here’s our guide to thebest action movies.
I’m the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for the Total Film and SFX sections online. I previously worked as a Senior Showbiz Reporter and SEO TV reporter at Express Online for three years. I’ve also written for The Resident magazines and Amateur Photographer, before specializing in entertainment.
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