Paul Mescal Takes on the Ghosts of Roman History in ‘Gladiator II’ Trailer

It’s going to be fairly easy to answer the question of “Are you not entertained?” if Gladiator II lives up to the action we’ve already seen in the trailers. Paramount has just released another look at the highly-anticipated sequel to Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, due for release on November 22, and it promises to be one of the films of the year. And this trailer has dropped a real shocker too… Paul Mescal is playing the son of Russell Crowe’s Maximus. Mescal, as we know now, plays Lucius, the son of Maximus and the nephew of Commodus from the 2000 original, while Pedro Pascal plays a general who has been cast out. Denzel Washington takes on the role of Macrinus, a former slave turned merchant who has his eye out for vengeance on a grand scale. With Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger starring as the twin Emperors, Gata and Caracalla. Derek Jacobi and Connie Nielsen will reprise their roles from the original.

The jaw-dropping action in the trailer is on another scale and level from the original, with gladiators now facing sharks and rhinos as well as each other. Lucius has a fight on his hands to reclaim his name as well as to hold onto his life, with the theme of legacy running strongly through it. Lucius declares he will never be an instrument, but he will have his vengeance.