The New Trailer For 'Gladiator II' Starring Denzel Washington and Paul Mescal Is Here

By Brian Richards | Film | July 9, 2024 |

By Brian Richards | Film | July 9, 2024 |

In the year 2000 (I can never say or write that sentence without thinking of Late Night with Conan O’Brien), Gladiator opened in theaters. It was directed by Ridley Scott, and starred Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Djimon Hounsou, the late Richard Harris, and Oliver Reed in his final performance before he died in 1999. The film made $465 million worldwide, won five Oscars (including Best Actor for Crowe and Best Picture), and became an obsession for Ralph Cifaretto on The Sopranos before he was beaten and strangled to death in his own kitchen by Tony Soprano. (A not-entirely-fun fact: Gladiator was the first movie I ever bought on DVD, along with my very first DVD player. Rest in peace, Circuit City.)

Twenty-four years later, its long-awaited sequel is about to open in theaters (and on the same day as Wicked: Part One, no less), with the trailer for Gladiator II premiering online earlier today, and Ridley Scott back in the director’s chair.

From Wikipedia:

Over two decades after the events of Gladiator, Lucius —the grandson of Rome’s former emperor Marcus Aurelius (Harris) and son of Lucilla (Nielsen) —lives with his wife and child in Numidia. Roman soldiers led by General Marcus Acacius (played by Pedro Pascal) invade, forcing Lucius into slavery. Inspired by the story of Maximus, as depicted in the original 2000 film, Lucius (played by Paul Mescal) resolves to fight as a gladiator while opposing the rule of the young emperors Caracalla and Geta (played by Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn).

Gladiator II, starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington, opens in theaters on November 22. For a more in-depth look at the making of the film, check out Anthony Breznican’s article on Vanity Fair.

And yes, Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn will appear onscreen together next year as Reed Richards, a.k.a. Mister Fantastic, and Johnny Storm, a.k.a. the Human Torch, in The Fantastic Four, which opens in theaters on July 25, 2025.