First Look at Denzel Washington in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II
Vanity Fair has released several new photos from the upcoming Gladiator II, the epic historical drama film directed and co-produced by Ridley Scott. The film hits theaters on November 22.
Serving as a sequel to Gladiator (2000), the film was written by David Scarpa, and stars Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Connie Nielsen, and Derek Jacobi. It was produced by Scott Free Productions for Paramount Pictures.
Paul Mescal as Lucius Verus, the former heir to the Empire. Director Ridley Scott mentions that since he was last seen approximately 15 years ago, Lucius has been living "in the wilderness" with no connection with his mother, who now thinks he might be dead.[2] He was previously portrayed by Spencer Treat Clark in Gladiator (2000)
Denzel Washington plays a dashing powerbroker named Macrinus. “Denzel is an arms dealer who supplies food for the armies in Europe, supplies wine and oil, makes steel, makes spears, weapons, cannons, and catapults. So he is a very wealthy man. Instead of having a stable of racehorses, he has a stable of gladiators,” Scott says. “He’s beautiful. He drives a golden Ferrari. I got him a gold-plated chariot.”
Asked if Macrinus is good to his fighters or cruel, the filmmaker scoffs: “To the guys who fight in the arena I guess he’s pretty fucking cruel, right?”
Pedro Pascal as a former military commander forced to fight as a gladiator in punishment for his insubordination.
Connie Nielsen returns as Lucilla, the mother of Lucius
Derek Jacobi returns as Senator Gracchus, a member of the Roman Senate who opposes the growing corruption of the Imperial court
