Paramount has released its first trailer for ‘Gladiator II,’ the long-awaited sequel to the 2000 historical drama that took the world by storm, and it’s shaping up to have an all-star cast worthy of the legendary franchise (the original film is #36 on IMDb’s Top 250 Movies chart). Director Ridley Scott has assembled an impressive ensemble of veteran stars and rising talents to bring the next chapter of this ancient Roman saga to life. Who are the players? IMDb has broken down the trailer to give fans the scoop on the cast and characters.
Paul Mescal as Lucius
Leading the way is Paul Mescal as Lucius, the son of Lucilla, who we saw as a young boy shadowing the legendary gladiator Maximus (played by Russell Crowe) in the original film. Mescal gained popularity starring opposite Daisy Edgar-Jones in the Hulu series “Normal People,” and since then the actor has quickly become one of Hollywood's hottest young stars. More recently, he costarred with Andrew Scott in ‘All of Us Strangers’ and gained an Oscar nomination for his role in ‘Aftersun.’ ‘Gladiator II’ is a huge opportunity for Mescal to cement himself as a leading man on the big screen.
Denzel Washington as Macrinus
Acting royalty Denzel Washington needs no introduction, and the two-time Oscar winner joins the cast as the Roman emperor Macrinus. A powerful ruler of the Roman Empire should be a juicy role for Washington to sink his teeth into, judging by the way he chews up the scenery in the trailer.
Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius
Pedro Pascal continues his meteoric rise with a key role as Marcus Acacius, a Roman general. Fresh off the massive success of HBO’s “The Last of Us,” Pascal will lend his leading man charisma and geek cred to this sword-and-sandal epic in a supporting role as the target of Mescal’s revenge.
Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta
Joseph Quinn is best known for his stint as Eddie Munson, the beloved metalhead from Season 4 of “Stranger Things.” That role earned him the top spot on IMDb’s STARmeter for three weeks straight in 2022. He’s currently the most popular cast member from ‘Gladiator II’ on IMDb, thanks to his current hit, ‘A Quiet Place: Day One,’ in which he costars with Lupita Nyong’o. In ‘Gladiator II,’ he'll play the villainous Emperor Geta in a role that will likely draw comparisons to Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus from the first ‘Gladiator.’
Connie Nielsen as Lucilla
Connie Nielsen reprises her role as Lucilla from the original ‘Gladiator,’ bringing gravitas and history to the sprawling story. Her regal presence should anchor the film's family dynamics. Fans may also recognize Nielsen from her role as Hippolyta in DC’s ‘Wonder Woman’ and ‘Wonder Woman 1984.’
Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla
Fred Hechinger, the talented young actor who had key roles in Season 1 of “The White Lotus” and in Netflix’s ‘Fear Street’ trilogy and recently starred in the indie comedy ‘Thelma,’ takes a very different turn here as the insane Emperor Caracalla. From his wild performance seen in the trailer, Hechinger will get to demonstrate his range as an antagonist.
With an ensemble blending decorated veterans like Washington and Pascal with hot new stars like Mescal and Quinn, ‘Gladiator II’ has a cast befitting its huge ambitions to revive one of cinema's most acclaimed franchises. Fans can look forward to this impressive line-up of talent facing off in the Colosseum when the film hits theaters in November 2024.
Watch the trailer on IMDb....
Paul Mescal as Lucius
Leading the way is Paul Mescal as Lucius, the son of Lucilla, who we saw as a young boy shadowing the legendary gladiator Maximus (played by Russell Crowe) in the original film. Mescal gained popularity starring opposite Daisy Edgar-Jones in the Hulu series “Normal People,” and since then the actor has quickly become one of Hollywood's hottest young stars. More recently, he costarred with Andrew Scott in ‘All of Us Strangers’ and gained an Oscar nomination for his role in ‘Aftersun.’ ‘Gladiator II’ is a huge opportunity for Mescal to cement himself as a leading man on the big screen.
Denzel Washington as Macrinus
Acting royalty Denzel Washington needs no introduction, and the two-time Oscar winner joins the cast as the Roman emperor Macrinus. A powerful ruler of the Roman Empire should be a juicy role for Washington to sink his teeth into, judging by the way he chews up the scenery in the trailer.
Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius
Pedro Pascal continues his meteoric rise with a key role as Marcus Acacius, a Roman general. Fresh off the massive success of HBO’s “The Last of Us,” Pascal will lend his leading man charisma and geek cred to this sword-and-sandal epic in a supporting role as the target of Mescal’s revenge.
Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta
Joseph Quinn is best known for his stint as Eddie Munson, the beloved metalhead from Season 4 of “Stranger Things.” That role earned him the top spot on IMDb’s STARmeter for three weeks straight in 2022. He’s currently the most popular cast member from ‘Gladiator II’ on IMDb, thanks to his current hit, ‘A Quiet Place: Day One,’ in which he costars with Lupita Nyong’o. In ‘Gladiator II,’ he'll play the villainous Emperor Geta in a role that will likely draw comparisons to Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus from the first ‘Gladiator.’
Connie Nielsen as Lucilla
Connie Nielsen reprises her role as Lucilla from the original ‘Gladiator,’ bringing gravitas and history to the sprawling story. Her regal presence should anchor the film's family dynamics. Fans may also recognize Nielsen from her role as Hippolyta in DC’s ‘Wonder Woman’ and ‘Wonder Woman 1984.’
Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla
Fred Hechinger, the talented young actor who had key roles in Season 1 of “The White Lotus” and in Netflix’s ‘Fear Street’ trilogy and recently starred in the indie comedy ‘Thelma,’ takes a very different turn here as the insane Emperor Caracalla. From his wild performance seen in the trailer, Hechinger will get to demonstrate his range as an antagonist.
With an ensemble blending decorated veterans like Washington and Pascal with hot new stars like Mescal and Quinn, ‘Gladiator II’ has a cast befitting its huge ambitions to revive one of cinema's most acclaimed franchises. Fans can look forward to this impressive line-up of talent facing off in the Colosseum when the film hits theaters in November 2024.
Watch the trailer on IMDb....
- 7/9/2024
- by IMDb Editors
- IMDb News
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