Everything we know about Gladiator II so far
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Get ready to see Paul Mescal in action as he gears up for the long-awaited Gladiator 2. This time, he will be stepping into the arena for an epic showdown.
In the 2000 movie, Russell Crowe played a Roman general who was captured and forced into slavery after the death of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, portrayed by the late Richard Harris. The film was nominated for 12 Oscars and ended up winning five, including Best Picture.
The film's actors were seen filming additional scenes at Devil’s Dyke, a valley in Sussex, England. Mescal was spotted in his costume, looking beaten and bloodied, while shooting an intense fight scene. The main filming had been done in Morocco, but these reshoots were necessary at the English National Trust park.
People are very excited for Ridley Scott's new movie featuring Mescal because it has been 24 years since the last one. The movie also has a great cast including Pedro Pascal from The Last of Us, Denzel Washington, and Joseph Quinn from Stranger Things. Check out all the details below.
In the next movie, Mescal will play the main character Lucius, who is the son of Lucilla (played by Connie Nielsen) and the nephew of Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix).
Nielsen is coming back to the show, along with another familiar face, Derek Jacobi, who will be reprising his role as Gracchus.
Fred Hechinger, who is most famous for his role in The White Lotus, stars as Geta alongside Quinn, who plays Caracalla, as co-emperors. Washington takes on the role of a former enslaved person seeking retribution.
Additional cast members include Pascal playing the role of the formidable Roman military leader Marcus Acacius, who was mentored by Crowe's character Maximus Decimus Meridius. The cast also includes Matt Lucas from the popular show Little Britain and Peter Mensah from the hit movie Avatar.
Mescal was not required to try out for the follow-up movie because he stated that Scott personally chose him to portray the main character.
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The star of Aftersun revealed that he had a meeting with the famous director and "talked about the details of the story. Later on, I received a script."
"It's a daunting challenge. I feel anxious about it, but I believe I can accomplish it," Mescal stated. "I'm thrilled that I have the opportunity to do it."
What's In The Trailer?
The movie was first shown on July 9th. In the trailer, we see Washington's character Macrinus asking Mescal's character where he was born. Mescal's character replies that he doesn't know because he never had parents. The trailer also includes scenes of the colosseum, flashbacks, and the Emperor and his friends making plans.
Years later, Lucius (Mescal) is made to fight in the Colosseum after his home is taken over by the cruel Emperors who are now ruling Rome with a tight grip, following the death of the beloved hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle. This information is also mentioned in the promotional material of the movie.
Filled with anger and determination, Lucius must delve into his past in order to find the courage and integrity needed to restore Rome's former greatness and uplift its citizens.
When Does It Take Place?
Although specific time periods have not been officially announced, Scott has hinted before that Lucius has been residing in the forest for 15 years, completely separated from his mother (Nielsen) and under the assumption that she is deceased. The sequel may take place nearly 20 years after the events of the first movie.
The story is still a secret, but a sneak peek of an incomplete preview debuted at CinemaCon in April 2024. It featured a battered Mescal battling numerous gladiators, along with baboons and rhinos.
The first movie took place in the year 180 AD, showing Maximus coming back to his home after leading the Roman army to win battles.
Release Date: When Is It?
Gladiator 2 is set to hit theaters on November 15, 2024.
Is Russell Crowe In It?
Crowe, who received an Oscar for the movie, has denied the rumor that he will make a cameo in a flashback sequence in the film. He also confessed to feeling envious of Mescal's journey, saying: "I was younger back then and it was a significant moment in my life. It really transformed my life, altering how people perceived me and my profession."
Even though Crowe has vehemently refuted rumors about making a cameo in a flashback sequence for Gladiator 2, speculation intensified when he was seen in Malta in July, where the movie is currently being filmed.
The famous actor from Cinderella Man said that he recently visited Malta for a different purpose, to put on a music show with his band, Indoor Garden Party.
He mentioned to reporters that visiting the movie's set made him feel nostalgic because it looked exactly like the one built in the 1990s.
During a recent conversation with Kyle Meredith, Crowe shared why he feels a bit uneasy about the decision to create another installment of the series.
"Since I am deceased, I have no control over the situation," he stated, continuing to express his dislike for the storyline of the upcoming movie.
"I've heard some things that made me think, 'That doesn't fit the moral development of that character,'" he explained.
"I am not in a position to comment on that as I am not directly involved. We will have to wait and see what happens."
Get ready for the highly anticipated sequel, Gladiator 2, hitting theaters on November 15, 2024.
