Return of the "Gladiator": Paul Mescal leads a star-studded cast

"Gladiator" returns nearly a quarter of a century after the 2000 version with Russell Crowe took theatres by storm. It was filmed for £82 million and grossed over £377 million in theatres, becoming the second highest-grossing movie of that year. The film won five major awards in the film industry. Yet, fans had to wait long for Ridley Scott to tackle this project again.

The action of the new movie takes 24 years (a clever move!) after the events of the first "Gladiator." This time, Lucius Verus takes the forefront. Paul Mescal portrays him, and he will be the titular gladiator following Maximus' (Russell Crowe) footsteps. Lucius is the Roman Empire’s heir but has been living in seclusion for years. Eventually, he has to return to the capital to face his legacy. The movie also features Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Derek Jacobi, and Joseph Quinn.

Paul Mescal is currently on the rise. After the successful film "Aftersun" and the series "Normal People," Scott cast him in a film that will undoubtedly be a box-office hit this autumn. The interest in the new "Gladiator" is already immense, fuelled by the stars themselves.

Pedro Pascal posted a photo from the makeup room on his Instagram account. It shows his younger colleague, Paul, in a costume, though not covering much. The smiling actor has a bare chest and arms and is grinning widely. Of course, fans in the comments section went wild with excitement, and it’s no wonder: Mescal looks more than good.

The Hollywood Reporter says that the "Gladiator 2" trailer garnered nearly 250 million views on various platforms worldwide within a few days (the best result this year), suggesting that Scott's film is a highly anticipated sequel to the hit from 24 years ago. The premiere of "Gladiator 2" will be on 15 November 2024.