Paramount Pictures
The first official looks at Gladiator II, the long-awaited sequel to Ridley Scott’s Best Picture-winning film Gladiator, has been released.
Ahead of the film’s release in November, Vanity Fair has gotten exclusive first-look photos of the film that feature Paul Mescal in the lead role of Lucius (Russell Crowe’s character’s son in the original film), Pedro Pascal as Roman general Acacius, and Denzel Washington
“The central character portrayed by Mescal is Lucius, last seen as the young son of Lucilla, Connie Nielsen’s noblewoman from the original movie… As Gladiator II begins, Mescal’s Lucius has a wife and child, and lives a relatively peaceful life with them until conquerors from his homeland begin to encroach.” [via Vanity Fair]
Gladiator 2 also stars Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, Joseph Quinn as Emperor Caracalla, Fred Hechinger as Emperor Geta, Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus, May Calamawy, and more.
The film is set to be a massive step in Mescal’s career as the Academy Award-nominated actor has yet to star in a blockbuster of this scale.
Released in the year 2000, Gladiator starred Russell Crowe in the lead role, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor. The film was also awarded Best Picture, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, and Best Costume Design.
Gladiator II will hit movie theaters in the United States on Friday, November 22.