Gladiator II debuts trailer and six character posters

24 years on from its 2000 release, director Ridley Scott’s Oscar-garlanded historical action epic Gladiator has received a follow-up. Premiering today, the first trailer for the Paramount Pictures blockbuster suggests no shortage of the large-scale bombast and muscular action of its predecessor. While director Scott and original cast member Connie Nielsen have returned, star Russell Crowe – seen here in flashback – has ceded leading man duties to Paul Mescal, who heads a cast of fresh faces including Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn and Denzel Washington.

While light on plot details, the trailer sees Mescal’s vengeful warrior taken under the wing of Washington’s mysterious benefactor. Also teased are a seafaring battle held within the colosseum, a skirmish with an armoured rhinoceros that looks to put the original’s tiger battle to shame, and Quinn and Fred Hechinger on campily villainous form as a scheming fraternal duo.

Thomas Messner

Gladiator II is released nationwide on 15^th November 2024, available in 4DX and IMAX.