Vanity Fair unveiled exclusive images of the upcoming sequel to Gladiator, featuring a star-studded cast including Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Fred Hechinger, and Joseph Quinn. The film, set to release on November 22, continues the saga with a focus on Lucius (played by Paul Mescal), the son of Maximus (Russell Crowe).
One of the standout elements of the first look was Denzel Washington’s portrayal of Macrinus, described by director Ridley Scott as an affluent arms dealer who controls a stable of gladiators. Scott elaborated, “He is a very wealthy man… Instead of having a stable of racehorses, he has a stable of gladiators.”
Paul Mescal, nominated for an Oscar, portrays Lucius, who confronts Pedro Pascal’s character, General Acacius, in a struggle for dominance. Describing his role, Mescal commented to Vanity Fair, “It’s very ‘angry young man’ drama in that sense. He can see the way Rome has kind of fallen in on itself.”
The release of the first images sparked a range of reactions among fans. Some expressed excitement about Denzel Washington’s involvement, with one fan stating, “Might be more excited to see Denzel in this than anyone else and the cast is very good.”
However, Denzel’s casting in a Roman-era film also generated mixed responses regarding historical accuracy and representation. Some critics questioned the choice, with one comment reading, “Black Roman Imperator? Ahshhahahahhah Great job woke historians.”
In defense of the casting, another comment clarified, “lol this comment section ain’t it: first, no Denzel is not even playing an emperor here, he’s playing a wealthy merchant and secondly, for gods sake THERE WAS A BLACK EMPEROR: Septimus Severus. Google is free people.”
Gladiator 2 is scheduled to hit theaters on November 22. The original Gladiator, released in 2000, was a significant success, winning multiple Oscars including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe.