Much like the case with Joseph Kosinski’s Top Gun: Maverick, just a few years prior, the entire prospect of this seemed like nothing more than fantasy. But considering what we’ve now previewed in the first Gladiator 2 trailer, not only is the sequel very real — it promises to be the mainstream cinematic event of 2024.
Set several decades after the Academy Award-winning original film, in line with everything we’ve been told about Ridley Scott’s much-hyped sequel thus far, Gladiator 2 (stylised as Gladiator II) follows Paul Mescal as Lucius Vera (originally portrayed by Spencer Treat Clark) — the now-adult son of noblewoman Lucilla (Connie Nielson); and nephew of the villainous Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix).
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As Scott himself explained in conversation with Vanity Fair, as a child, Mescal’s Lucius was sent to Numidia, for his protection, just outside the Roman Empire’s grasp along the coast of Northern Africa. But when General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) invades, forcing him into slavery, the grandson of Rome’s former emperor resolves to fight as a gladiator.
Drawing inspiration from the story of his childhood hero Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe), with the help of the aggrieved power broker Macrinus (Denzel Washington), Lucius makes his stand against young emperors Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) and Geta (Joseph Quinn; replacing Barry Keoghan) in the Colosseum.
The trailer largely resembles what had been teased at this year’s CinemaCon, down to the footage’s opening beats, scored to the swell of Kanye West & Jay-Z’s ‘No Church In The Wild’ (ft. Frank Ocean). Because indeed, what is a god (the Roman empire) to a non-believer (Mescal’s Lucius Vera)? Side note: we anticipate people will take issue with Denzel Washington’s anachronistic American accent; though let’s be honest — the man sells the ever-living s**t out of those lines.
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This star-studded cast also features May Calamawy, Lior Raz, Peter Mensah, Matt Lucas, Tim McInnerny, and Alexander Karim, with Derek Jacobi reprising his role as Senator Gracchus.
In addition to directing, Ridley Scott has served as a key co-producer to Gladiator II; working alongside his usual collaborators — screenwriter David Scarpa (All The Money In The World, Napoleon), legendary cinematographer John Mathieson (Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Logan), as well as costume designer Janty Yates and production designer Arthur Max.
Gladiator 2 release date: November 22nd, 2024 (US) and November 15th, 2024 (Australia/International) — check out the thrilling first trailer above.
