Take a First Look at Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and More in 'Gladiator II'
Ridley Scott’s prequel hits theaters this November.
Vanity Fair has shared exclusive first look images at Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal in Gladiator II.
The upcoming Ridley Scott-directed feature takes place a few decades after the events of 2000’s Gladiator and follows Mescal as Lucius Verus, the son of former co-emperor Lucius Verus and former heir to the Empire. After peacefully spending the past 15 years in Numidia with his wife and child, he is captured by Roman soldiers led by Pascal’s Marcus Acacius and forced into slavery. He must then fight as a gladiator, all the while attempting to free the Empire from the “sadistic” rule of Fred Hechinger’s Emperor Caracalla and Joseph Quinn’s Emperor Geta.
Speaking to Vanity Fair, Mescal explained that he sees Gladiator II as a film about “[w]hat human beings will do to survive, but also what human beings will do to win.” He continued, “We see that in the arena, but also in the political struggle that’s going on outside of my character’s storyline, where you see there’s other characters striving and pulling for power. Where’s the space for humanity? Where’s the space for love, familial connection? And ultimately, will those things overcome this kind of greed and power? Those things are oftentimes directly in conflict with each other.”
Joining Mecal, Pascal, Hechinger and Quinn in the cast are Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi.
Check out more of the photos below. Gladiator II hits US theaters November 22.
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