Paul Mescal wears Maximus’ armour in new ‘Gladiator 2’ trailer

The latest trailer for Gladiator II sees Paul Mescal adorn the hallowed armour of Russell Crowe’s Maximus from the original film – check it out below.

The film hits cinemas on November 15 in the UK and a week later in the US, and it will follow the story of Mescal’s Lucius, the former heir to the Roman Empire who is forced into slavery after the invasion of Pedro Pascal’s General Marcus Acacius.

Set 25 to 30 years after the events of the 2000 film, Lucius resolves to become a gladiator, and takes inspiration from the legend of Maximus Decimus Meridius, played in an Oscar-winning performance by Crowe in the original.

In the action-packed trailer, Lucius is urged to embrace the legend of Maximus by his mother Lucilla (Connie Nielsen, returning from the original), who implores him, “Take your father’s strength. His name was Maximus, and I see him in you.”

Watch the trailer here:

Gladiator II also stars Joseph Quinn and Denzel Washington and is released internationally on November 22, the same day as the film version of the musical Wicked, with fans dubbing the doubleheader ‘Glicked’, in homage to ‘Barbenheimer’.

Director Ridley Scott, 86, who has directed both instalments of the series so far, is already turning his mind to the idea of a third Gladiator film. “I’ve lit the fuse,” he said. “The ending of Gladiator II is reminiscent of The Godfather, with Michael Corleone finding himself with a job he didn’t want, and wondering, ‘Now, Father, what do I do?’ So the next [film] will be about a man who doesn’t want to be where he is.”

It appears to be confirmed that Mescal would also be attached to the third film, with the actor telling Premiere: “Yes, Ridley spoke to me about it, but only yesterday! So I’m waiting to see what’s going to happen, but I’m interested, of course. But we can’t rush anything: the story has to hold together.”

Scott has recently spoken about his reasons for not consulting Crowe about the new film, after the actor said he felt “slightly uncomfortable” about the sequel.

“I think [Russell Crowe] is still one of the best actors in the world, and I think we have a good relationship,” Scott said. “I hope we do. As long as he doesn’t start bitching about how he wasn’t consulted. Why would I? He’s dead!”

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