Summary:
- The latest Gladiator 2 CinemaCon footage confirms the roles of Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn in the movie.
- The revealed sequence includes a bloody battle in the Roman arena, with Pascal and Mescal’s characters setting up a clash at the end.
- Ridley Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Denzel Washington, Fred Hechinger, and Lior Raz joining the fray.
At this year’s CinemaCon, Paramount Pictures got every attendee hooked with an exclusive and gruesome preview of the much-anticipated Gladiator II. The teaser showcased thrilling new arena scenes with Paul Mescal in the spotlight, who was nominated for an Oscar for his previous performances.
According to Discussing Film, the sneak peek not only highlighted action sequences but also revealed more about the roles of Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn, both known for their roles in the upcoming Fantastic Four in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Pascal is set to portray an unnamed gladiator, a former soldier who finds himself betrayed by the empire, mirroring Russell Crowe’s iconic Maximus from the first film. Meanwhile, Quinn is set to take on a villainous role, reminiscent of Joaquin Phoenix’s Emperor Commodus. The Game of Thrones star even replicated the infamous thumbs-down gesture from the original film.
The teaser wrapped up with a riveting clash between Mescal’s character, Lucius, and Pascal’s unnamed gladiator, both emerging bloodied and battered. The victor was not confirmed.
After clashing in Gladiator 2, both Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn will work together again on the set of The Fantastic Four in the MCU. Pascal will portray the iconic Mr. Fantastic, while Quinn follows in Chris Evans‘ footsteps as the next live-action Human Torch.
A particularly intense moment from the footage involved gladiators battling against a horde of wild baboons. Director Ridley Scott drew inspiration for this harrowing scene from a real-life video of baboons attacking tourists in Johannesburg, a sight he admitted had “haunted” him enough to include it in the sequel.
Ridley Scott, the mastermind behind the first film, returns to direct this sequel, working from a script penned by David Scarpa. Joining the ensemble cast are coveted stars such as Denzel Washington, Fred Hechinger, May Calamawy, Lior Raz, Peter Mensah, Matt Lucas, and Tim McInnerny, alongside returning actors, Connie Nielsen as Lucilla and Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus.
Nielsen, in particular, shared her emotional experience returning to the franchise, describing it as both insane and a privilege, underscoring the deep impact revisiting this story has had on her.
“It’s been crazy cool. It’s been insane and such a privilege. I keep saying the word privilege, but that’s what I feel. It’s been super emotional as well. I am struggling with the words there. It’s been crazy and amazing,” said the Lucilla actress.
Before Paul Mescal was confirmed for the lead role, Gladiator 2 lingered in development for over two decades, as the protagonist wasn’t decided yet. Scott had various ideas for continuing the story, including an ambitious concept to resurrect Crowe’s Maximus using time travel, allowing him to traverse different eras before returning to Rome. This idea, however, was eventually scrapped.
Gladiator II is set to make its grand debut in theaters on November 22, 2024, promising to be a blend of historical drama and epic action that fans of the original will not want to miss.
