‘Gladiator II’ Second Trailer: Paul Mescal’s Lucius “Will Not Be An Instrument” In His Quest For Vengeance

Natalie Oganesyan and Justin Kroll
·2-min read

Prepare to be entertained, promises the new look at Ridley Scott’s much-anticipated follow-up, Gladiator II.

In a second epic trailer, Paul Mescal’s Lucius forms an uneasy alliance with Denzel Washington’s Macrinus, a Roman power player who uses the former’s fury as a tool for his own aims. “I will never be your instrument,” Lucius says in the new spot, teased yesterday, “but I will have my vengeance.”

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The movie stars Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn and Connnie Nielsen, who reprises her role from the original pic.

The film’s first trailer, dropped in early July, became one of Paramount Pictures’ top performers, ahead of another hyped sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, racking up more than 180 million views in a little over 48 hours.

Gladiator II, which comes 24 years after the original starring Russell Crowe as a revenge-seeking general-turned-slave, will debut Nov. 22, a week ahead of Thanksgiving. The sequel to the epic historical fiction tale will follow a grown-up Lucius (originally portrayed by Spencer Treat Clark), nephew of the first film’s Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) and son of Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla, who is unstoppable in his rage-filled quest for the downfall of the Roman army.

Written by David Scarpa from a story created with Peter Craig, Gladiator II‘s ensemble is rounded out by Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn, as well as Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz and Derek Jacobi. Executive producers are Walter Parkes, Laure MacDonald, Raymond Kirk and Aidan Elliott. The film is also produced by Douglas Wick, Scott, Lucy Fisher, Michael Pruss and David Franzoni, who originated the characters.

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