Years after witnessing the death of Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius must enter the Colosseum after the powerful emperors of Rome conquer his home. With rage in his heart and the future of the empire at stake, he looks to the past to find the strength and honour needed to return the glory of Rome to its people.

Yes, we once again have the opportunity to feel the sand between our toes and visit ancient Rome with the imminent release of Gladiator II, over twenty years after the original Best Picture Oscar winning Gladiator (2000). 

Director Sir Ridley Scott (Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), Thelma & Louise (1991), Black Hawk Down (2001), The Martian (2015)) has brought together a glittering cast led by Paul Mescal as Lucius, the son of Lucilla (the returning Connie Nielsen), and the nephew of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Denzel Washington is Macrinus, a wealthy arms dealer who uses gladiators for his thrills in the sporting arena, with the Roman forces led by Pedro Pascal who plays General Marcus Acacius. Sir Derek Jacobi returns to play Gracchus and White Lotus star Fred Hechinger is Emperor Caracalla.  

Paul Mescal recently spoke about the first day walking into the Colosseum and the awe of what Ridley Scott and his team had created. There was also awe when Mescal first encountered the icon that is Denzel Washington on set. He had to calm his nerves by telling himself that he had a job to do.    

For Washington it was the lure of working with Ridley Scott again, after their successful collaboration with American Gangster (2007) that made him sign up to star in the sequel. Speaking to Empire Magazine he said, 

“There are very few films left for me to make that I’m interested in, and I have to be inspired by the filmmaker, and I was tremendously inspired by Ridley. We had a great go-round the first go round and here we are. He’s engaged. He’s excited about life and his next film. He’s an inspiration. We should all want to feel like that at 86.” 

Surrounding himself with such a great team has obviously had a lasting effect on Scott; so much so, there is already talk of Gladiator III.  

At my signal, unleash hell.

Bring it on!! 

Gladiator II is released at Showcase on November 15, with tickets available now!