'THIS IS GOING TO WIN ALL THE OSCARS': GLADIATOR II DEBUTS FIRST LOOK AND FANS LOVE IT
Over two decades after the first Gladiator movie, director Ridley Scott is returning with the long-awaited sequel. Set for premiere later this year, Gladiator II has just unveiled the first look.
Gladiator II has been a long time in the making, but now the wait is almost over. Vanity Fair has just unveiled the first look at the upcoming blockbuster, which will follow Paul Mescal's central character, Lucius Verus. Given Russell Crowe's Maximus passed away at the end of the film, Ridley Scott's plans to bring back Maximus for Gladiator II didn't work out, but that doesn't stop fans from being excited about the upcoming film. Gladiator II also stars Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, and Joseph Quinn, with Connie Nielsen returning as Lucilla.
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“My nose just is kind of Roman,” Paul Mescal said about his appearance coming in handy for his role. “So it’s useful in this context. The nose that I absolutely hated when I was in secondary school — and used to get ribbed for — became very, very useful when Ridley needed somebody to be in Gladiator II.”
This movie has an identity that is shaped by his legacy. It wouldnt make sense for it not to.
Speaking about what Gladiator II is about, Mescal explained it's about “What human beings will do to survive, but also what human beings will do to win. We see that in the arena, but also in the political struggle that’s going on outside of my character’s storyline, where you see there’s other characters striving and pulling for power. Where’s the space for humanity? Where’s the space for love, familial connection? And ultimately, will those things overcome this kind of greed and power? Those things are oftentimes directly in conflict with each other.”
“This movie has an identity that is shaped by his legacy. It wouldn’t make sense for it not to,” says The Last of Us' Pedro Pascal, who plays Marcus Acacius. He describes his character as a fighter who “learned from the best, so of course this code of honor is ingrained into his training and into his existence. But at the end of the day, he’s a different person. And that can’t change who he is. Maximus is Maximus, and that can’t be replicated. That just makes Acacius capable of different things.”
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Gladiator II Thrilled the Film's Fans
As the first look for Gladiator II was released online, fans didn't waste time praising the upcoming sequel. Rotten Tomatoes' Erik Davis noted that, "Best footage we watched at CinemaCon. The trailer for this is epic," with another user noting that "Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal in the arena, it's shaping up to be a battle of the titans." Another fan went all in, saying Gladiator II "is going to win all the Oscars."
The potential is there, given that 2000's Gladiator was a major hit. The blockbuster won five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Visual Effects. Ridley Scott also got a nomination for the best director but lost to Steven Soderbergh for Traffic, but has a new change with the sequel. The film has also announced that the first trailer will premiere shortly on July 9.
Gladiator II will be released internationally on Nov. 15 and in North American theaters on Nov. 22.
Source: Vanity Fair
Gladiator 2