Gladiator 2 is just two months away – and we can't wait to return to the arena. Some 24 years ago Ridley Scott's original Gladiator movie became a surprise box office hit – raking in hundreds of millions at the global box office – and one of the best action movies ever made. Despite the film's massive success, a sequel was never made... until now..
If you need a quick recap, the original film followed Russell Crowe's Maximus Decimus Meridius on a journey of revenge. Gladiator 2 was officially announced in 2018 and has swiftly become one of the most anticipated upcoming movies this year.
But you may be wondering what story would Gladiator 2 tell given the first film's emotional, jaw-dropping climax? And, is Russell Crowe making a comeback? Well, we have all the details below. From the Gladiator 2 release date, cast, trailer, and more here's everything you need to know ahead of the new movie.
Gladiator 2 release date
Grab your wallets because the Gladiator 2 release date is set to hit theaters on November 22, 2024, in the US and Friday, November 15, in the UK. This means that we’ll get to see the Ridley Scott movie go head-to-head with the upcoming musical Wicked – which is also set to release on November 22.
Who knows, we may get another Barbenheimer situation as the two movies hit the big screen together. Gladiator and witchy cinema outfits, anyone? Whether you choose to dress up for the occasion or not, we are excited to have two big movie release dates for the price of one this November!
Gladiator 2 plot
Considering how the first Gladiator ended, it should shock no one to hear that Gladiator 2 won’t be following Maximus Decimus Meridius. Instead, the new movie will take place 15 years after the first movie and center around Lucius Verus – the former emperor of Rome’s grandson.
But before all of you Maximus fans start to worry about the new lead character, you’ll be pleased to hear that Lucius will be facing a very similar predicament to the original leading man. Gladiator 2 will see Lucius thrown into a life of slavery after his home is invaded by General Marcus Acacius. Just like Maximus did before him, Lucius is determined to fight his way as a gladiator in the arena in order to avenge his family and oppose the new young emperors Caracalla and Geta. Lucius is also the son of Maximus, Russell Crowe's iconic character from the first movie – which adds a layer of complexity to his character: can he fight the way his father did?
Thanks to some first-look images posted by Vanity Fair on July 2, 2024, we got to see actor Paul Mescal as Lucius in the arena for the first time. Given the intense shots, it looks like this story will be just as action-packed as the first Gladiator movie!
In terms of backstory, we also know that Gladiator 2 will touch on Lucius’ childhood. According to Vanity Fair, we will get to hear about how Lucius’ mother, Lucilla, sent him to the northern coast of Africa. Basically, it was for his own good, hiding the rightful heir away from his enemies and forcing him to get stronger. But, we are positive that Lucius holds resentment towards his mother, and we can’t wait for all that family drama to hit the big screen.
Ridley Scott also told Total Film that his upcoming film won't shy away from the harsh reality of this period of history either. "People think that history is something that didn’t happen," he says. "By God, this happened again and again… I tried to bring back a little bit of that history into a reality, and not a fantasy." So don't expect a happy storybook ending for this one folks.
All in all, it seems like the Gladiator 2 plot is packed. Honestly, we recommend giving the first movie a rewatch, just so you are fully caught up on all the backstory and ancient Rome politics. You can also read our Gladiator review if you need a quick refresher!
Gladiator 2 trailer
The first Gladiator 2 trailer gives a hint of the epic follow-up that Scott has in store. It begins with Paul Mescal’s character, Lucius, speaking to Denzel Washington’s Macrinus. Lucius recalls watching Maximus as a boy, as he shares his hopes to take down Rome.
In him, Macrinus sees an "instrument" as they plot together to cause chaos for a crumbling empire. Lucius’ target? Pascal’s Marcus Acacius, who is a high-up General working for emperors Geta and Caracalla. As he plots his way up the ranks of the gladiators, Lucius faces a rhino in a particularly brutal exchange, as we also see the Colosseum filled up with sharks. Watch the dramatic first look above.
The second Gladiator 2 trailer, which can be viewed above, contains a massive reveal: Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), tells Lucius that his father was Maximus – the very same Maximus from the first film, played by Russell Crowe. "Lucius, take your father's strength," she tells him. "His name was Maximus and I see him in you." We also see Lucius fighting a baboon, a rhino, and Pedro Pascal.
Gladiator 2 cast
The Gladiator 2 cast is filled with A-list stars. Leading the sequel is Paul Mescal as Lucius. Denzel Washington is set to appear as Macrinus, a former slave with a hatred for the current emperors of Rome. And, taking a break from preparing for The Last of Us season 2 is Pedro Pascal as the disgraced general Marcus Acacius.
Connie Nielsen is also returning to play Lucius’ mother, and we will see Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger embrace their inner villains as they take on the roles of co-emperors Caracalla and Geta respectively.
Recently speaking to GamesRadar+, Hechinger revealed that his character is inspired by punk star Sid Vicious stating: "It is amazing, we spent time building that and when Ridley [Scott] and I first talked, we talked a lot about Sid Vicious. We talked a lot of influences that you might not expect in a world like that, but I found it to be very inspiring, and liberating, and wild."
Read the full Gladiator 2 cast list below:
- Paul Mescal as Lucius Verus
- Denzel Washington as Macrinus
- Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius
- Connie Nielsen as Lucilla
- Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus
- Joseph Quinn as co-emperor Caracalla
- Fred Hechinger as co-emperor Geta
- Tim McInnerny as Thraex
- Lior Raz
- Peter Mensah
- Matt Lucas
- May Calamawy
- Alexander Karim
While the list above is packed, you may have noticed that we are missing a few names. Firstly, Djimon Hounsou (who played Juba in the first movie) had to back out of the sequel due to scheduling conflicts. And, of course, Russell Crowe is missing in action for this sequel.
Is Russell Crowe in Gladiator 2?
Sorry to break all your Maximus hearts, but Russell Crowe currently has no involvement with Gladiator 2. So, don’t expect any surprising new footage or fresh flashback appearances.
It's still possible that we will see some archive footage pop up again from the 2000s movie, and we are sure that the Gladiator 2 characters will mention the late Roman general. But, there have been no reports of Crowe filming any new scenes. On one hand, this makes sense, given how Gladiator ended. Seeing a Maximus zombie walking around in Gladiator 2 would turn this into a horror movie, after all.
We will keep you updated if any last-minute surprise cameos or announcements take place. If you are after more star power in the meantime, you can read our list of the best war movies of all time.
If you are a fan of Gladiator, why not check out our list of the best 2000s movies ever made? Or, if you prefer streaming instead of a trip to the cinema, here are the best Netflix movies to enjoy from the comfort of your own home.
