It’s official: the first trailer for “Gladiator 2” has landed, and it stars none other than Irish actor Paul Mescal stepping into the colossal arena. It’s been nearly a quarter of a century since “Gladiator” first captivated audiences, and while Russell Crowe won’t be reprising his role in this sequel, the spirit of the epic saga continues with Mescal playing the son of Connie Nielsen’s character Lucilla.
Joining Mescal is the legendary Denzel Washington, portraying a former slave on a quest for vengeance. The two-time Academy Award winner is not the only talent in this lineup, as the film also features a slew of rising stars. Check out the trailer here:
Fans, initially skeptical about the sequel, have had their doubts quelled by the trailer. One enthusiastic viewer tweeted, “Looks incredible. Was on the fence about them creating a second but I think it’s in great half after watching the trailer. I am entertained!” Another expressed their excitement more vividly, tweeting: “GIVE ME THIS ENTIRE MOVIE NOW, INJECT IT IN MY VEINS.”
However, Russell Crowe has mixed feelings about the new installment. In a discussion with Kyle Meredith, Crowe admitted, “I’m slightly uncomfortable with the fact they’re making another one — because, of course, I’m dead and I have no say in what gets done. But a couple of the things I’ve heard I’m like ‘No, no, no, that’s not in the moral journey of that particular character’. But I can’t say anything, it’s not my place, I’m six foot under. So we’ll see what that is like.”
Despite Crowe’s reservations, with Ridley Scott helming the project once more, expectations are high. The cast also includes “Fantastic 4” co-stars Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn, soon-to-be seen as Marvel’s first family. They are joined by “Game of Thrones” alum Rory McCann and Matt Lucas.
The budget for “Gladiator 2” has reportedly skyrocketed to a staggering $310 million, partly due to recent industry strikes. If the original film’s success—garnering nearly half a billion dollars worldwide and achieving 12 Oscar nominations with five wins including Best Actor and Best Picture—is anything to go by, this sequel is poised to be a monumental hit.
The new trailer introduces a powerful tagline reminiscent of the original film, voiced by Crowe’s iconic character Maximus Decimus Meridius: “What we do in life echoes in eternity.”