Gladiator II (2024)

Ridley Scott returns to helm Gladiator sequel with Paul Mescal leading the charge and starring Denzel Washington

Gladiator 2 is an upcoming historical epic drama directed by Ridley Scott for Universal Pictures. It is the direct sequel of 2000's Gladiator which Scott also directed and starred Russell Crowe in his Academy Award winning role as the famed slave-turned-gladiator, Maximus Decimus Meridius. Other than Crowe's Best Actor achievement, the film went on to win five Oscars including Best Picture and became the second highest-grossing film of that year after Mission: Impossible 2. Joaquin Phoenix also earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Commodus.

Is Maximus in Gladiator 2?

The sequel follows the story of Commodus' nephew, Lucius, and is set twenty years after the events of the first film. Original Maximus actor, Russell Crowe, is not expected to return to Gladiator 2 since his character died at the end of the first film.

Who worked behind-the-scenes of Gladiator 2?

Ridley Scott is a legendary director in the industry, having helmed such titles as Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, Black Hawk Down and The Martian, just to name a few. David Scarpa wrote the screenplay for Gladiator 2 after previously working with Scott on All the Money in the World and Napoleon. Scott also produces the film alongside Michael Pruss, Lucy Fisher and original Gladiator collaborators, Douglas Wick and David Franzoni. Long-time Scott collaborator John Mathieson, who served as the original cinematographer on Gladiator, handles cinematography on the sequel.

Who stars in Gladiator 2?

Paul Mescal leads the film as Lucius, a role that was previously played by Spencer Treat Clark in the first film. Mescal is an Oscar-nominated actor whose credits include Normal People and All of Us Strangers. Hollywood icon and Oscar winner Denzel Washington plays an ex-slave who has risen to wealth and now engages trading weapons and goods, holding a deep resentment towards the emperors. The actor reunites with Scott after starring in the director's 2007 crime-drama American Gangster.

Returning cast members include Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, who is both the mother of Lucius and the older sister of Commodus. Derek Jacobi returns as Senator Gracchus, a prominent figure in the Roman Senate, while Djimon Hounsou resumes his role as Juba, a former gladiator. Pedro Pascal, May Calamawy, Lior Raz, Peter Mensah and Matt Lucas round out the cast.