The First “Gladiator 2” Trailer Is Magnificent and Totally Gorgeous
The assembly is reciting. Rome’s two emperors are hungrier for blood. It’s time for spectacular fight, ladies and gentlemen. Reenter the coliseum.
Gladiator II’s debut trailer, which is incredibly beautiful, was unveiled this morning following weeks of teaser photos and previews. I have not been this excited about a Rome-based film since the first Gladiator trailer appeared about twenty-five years ago. (I bought the movie on 4K Blu-ray to watch it again before the sequel comes out—it’s been a long time).
The epic historical drama starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix has a sequel that takes place years after the events of the first film. It centers on Lucius (Paul Mescal), the nephew of Commodus (Phoenix), the antagonist of the previous film, and the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen).
The boy Lucius, portrayed by Spencer Treat Clark, was in the movie. His mother sent him to Africa to escape Rome’s grasp, but he has returned as a gladiator in the sequel, where he encounters General Marcus Acacius, a former subordinate of General Maximus (Crowe), and the formidable and cunning Macrinus (Denzel Washington).
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With an even more prestigious ensemble, this appears to be every bit as dramatic and grandiose as the original movie. The least well-known of the main actors is a young Irish actor named Mescal, but after seeing Normal People, director Ridley Scott developed a like for him. Scott reportedly opted to cast him after just 30 minutes of conversation between the two. In addition, Mescal starred in the critically acclaimed film Aftersun, which debuted on Netflix not too long ago.
In a Vanity Fair interview, Pascal stated that filming the fight scenes in the film was difficult. “Man, it’s brutal.” Regarding his co-star, he said, “I call him Brick Wall Paul.” “He became really powerful. If it meant having to battle him again, I would rather be tossed from a skyscraper. To face off against someone so much younger, so gifted, and so fit… Apart from the fact that Ridley is an absolute genius, Paul is a major factor in my decision to subject my frail body to that ordeal.
Mescal stated to Vanity Fair that he preferred to concentrate on fight choreography over training to resemble an underwear model. “I just wanted to be big and strong and look like somebody who can cause a bit of damage,” he added.
Resuming her part as Lucilla, Nielsen remarked of Pascal, “What a gift that guy is.” I truly adore him, and he’s so ideal for this role—even to play with and work with. He is one of those exceptional actors who have both heart and soul, along with the amazing ability to morph.”
Emperor Caracalla, played by Fred Hechinger (Thelma), and Emperor Geta, played by Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things), complete the ensemble. In the teaser, the two seem quite insane.
Scott, for his part, says he is really excited about this sequel, especially since he had to give up the opportunity to direct so many of his earlier masterpieces. “I mean, I should have worked on the Blade Runner and Alien sequels. Over time, you undergo changes. I didn’t want to experience that again at the time. Denis Villeneuve, the filmmaker of Dune and the eventual director of Alien 2, succeeded James Cameron as director of Blade Runner 2049. As a rookie in the 1980s, “I was never told or asked.” As you might guess, I wasn’t content.
The strange inclusion of hip-hop music in the trailer is the one thing that bothers me. I can only assume that this was the brilliant idea of a marketing executive to cater to the younger audience, many of whom weren’t even born when the original film was released. It is ineffective.
On November 22, Gladiator II will be released in theaters. I’m looking forward to this movie, along with Deadpool and Wolverine, the most in the latter part of 2024.