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Gladiator 2 sounds absolutely unhinged – here’s what we know so far-Tori Brazier-Entertainment – Metro
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The Gladiator sequel, starring Paul Mescal, has had its first reveal (Picture: Getty/Universal)
The first footage from Sir Ridley Scott’s hotly anticipated Gladiator 2 was shared on Thursday night – and it sounds like an absolutely wild revisit to Ancient Rome.
For those lucky enough to be in attendance at CinemaCon, excited reports from Paramount’s panel at the event promise everything from rhino fights and a ripped Paul Mescal in the lead role, to the Colosseum being filled with water.
Sadly, the clip is not yet available for fans to watch online yet, but director Scott hyped it in special pre-roll footage that also included stars Mescal, Denzel Wahington, Pedro Pascal and returning actress Connie Nielsen.
‘It is possibly even more extraordinary than the first,’ the Oscar-winning filmmaker announced.
‘[It] is well worth the wait,’ he added, according to Variety, referencing the 24 years since the Russell Crowe-led original was released.
Let’s dive in to what we know so far of the film, which has officially been titled Gladiator II.
All we know about Gladiator 2 so far
Gladiator was an Oscar-winning film for director Ridley Scott (Picture: Dreamworks/Universal Pictures)
When is Gladiator 2’s UK release date?
Obviously, as the sequel to such a popular and well-received film – which won five major Oscars including best film, fans are clamouring to know when Gladiator II will be released.
Well, luckily, we already have an answer.
The film is currently scheduled to hit cinemas in the US on November 22, 2024, with the same date anticipated for the UK.
What is Gladiator 2 about?
Attendees at CinemaCon were given a first look at footage from Gladiator 2 (Picture: Universal/Getty Images)
Details are still under wraps as to the storyline for Gladiator II, but the footage that was shared has certainly given indications.
It appears that All of Us Strangers star Mescal will, as expected, be playing a gladiator himself, who is forced to fight and entertain Roman crowds in the arena.
There’s also plenty of political intrigue, with a shadowy political operator in Washington’s character, a former military leader condemned to fight as a gladiator and even a dual emperor situation.
That’s right – we’ve moved on from Joaquin Phoenix’s Emperor Commodus to now contend with two of them.
Commodus died in December 192 AD, so we can also firmly place Gladiator II’s historical setting within a window of just a couple of years thanks to the emperors it includes.
Caracalla and Geta are shown co-ruling, which means Gladiator II takes place between 209 and 211 AD.
Who does Paul Mescal play in Gladiator 2 – and who else is in the cast?
Paul Mescal plays Lucius in Gladiator 2 (Picture: Getty)
As Scott confirmed previously, Mescal is playing Lucius Verus, who is supposedly the secret son of Russell Crowe’s gladiator/ex-general, Maximus.
For the Normal People actor’s many fans, they will be delighted to note that his ‘chiseled physique’ is given a shoutout by Variety.
‘He’s been out in the wilderness having lost touch with his mother. His mother lost touch with him, she doesn’t know where he is. She thinks he might be dead,’ revealed the director to Rotten Tomatoes in November, after Mescal’s character was leaked.
His mother has been rumoured to be Lucilla, played by Connie Nielson, the older sister of Commodus, but that is not yet clear as there are conflicting interpretations.
Denzel Washington’s character’s name is not yet known, but he appears to be a high-ranking politician (Picture: Getty)
Pedro Pascal stars a military leader condemned to fight as a gladiator, like Maximus (Russell Crowe) was in the first film (Picture: Getty)
Washington’s as-yet unnamed political operative seems to be guiding Lucius towards some sort of rebellion, with it said that he claims at one point in the film’s footage: ‘Rome must fall. I need only give it a push.’
Like Crowe before him, The Mandalorian’s Pascal is said to play a revered right-hand military leader to the emperor(s), but one that is condemned to fight as a gladiator after sharing his reluctance to waste Rome’s young men on war, claims The Hollywood Reporter.
Meanwhile, Fred Hechinger (The White Lotus) and Stranger Things breakout star Joseph Quinn play co-emperor Geta and co-emperor Caracalla, respectively, with the pair appearing in face paint as they watch the spectacle unfold before the imperial box in the arena.
Other actors reported to be in the film include Tim McInnerny, Matt Lucas and Moon Knight actress May Calamawy.
Who is returning for Gladiator 2?
A major returner from Gladiator is Connie Nielson (Picture: Universal/Getty Images)
Unfortunately, there is no return for Russell Crowe as Maximus, even though it was something considered for his character for several years, despite Maximus’ death.
However, there are two pretty big returns.
Firstly, Nielson is back as Lucilla, who had a past connection with Maximus in Gladiator.
She is seen bestowing Maximus’ ring on Lucius in the footage that was screened.
Sir Derek Jacobi is also making a return as Senator Gracchus, who sought to overthrow the Emperor last time.
Djimon Hounsou’s Juba is thought to not be involved with Gladiator II, while Oliver Reed’s shock death while filming Gladiator in 1999 saw the script rewritten to involve the death of his trainer character Proximo on screen.
What we’ve learned from Gladiator 2’s CinemaCon footage and trailer
Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus is now replaced by two co-emperors, years later (Picture: Dreamworks)
Gladiator II was officially unveiled via this first peek at footage thanks to Cinema Con on Thursday, sharing the details as above confirming some rough ideas of characters.
But it also shared what sound likes some unhinged glimpses of major fight sequences…
The movie promises some wild animal fights
Gladiator 2 outstrips the tiger fights of the first film (Picture: Universal/ Getty Images)
Alongside a fight teased between Mescal’s Lucius and Pascal’s character, there is a lot more jaw-dropping action than that.
Reports confirmed that Lucius is seen fighting a soldier riding on top of an actual rhinoceros, as actor Washington vowed in the presentation that the film will have ‘emotion’ and ‘spectacle’ beyond anything else in theatres this year.
That’s not all either because – brace yourself – there’s also a pack of murderous monkeys. It seems the stakes have been raised a bit since Maximus faced off against tigers.
The Colosseum undergoes an epic transformation
We are very likely to be entertained (Picture: Universal/Getty Images)
One of the most epic-sounding titbits from the film to come out of Gladiator II’s presentation – fittingly held on the stage of The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas – is how the real Colosseum features in the film.
It’s been revealed that at one point the arena is filled with water for an epic ship battle.
If that sounds beyond belief though, it’s not – it’s actually straight from the pages of history as what was originally known as the Flavian amphitheatre was able to be flooded in order to stage a naval battle, called naumachiae.
Suffice it to say, we’ve got a lot to entertain us when Gladiator II finally releases later this year.
Gladiator II is scheduled to hit cinemas on November 22, 2024.
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