It’s been over 20 years since the monumental success of Gladiator, and the sequel is finally here. Gladiator II is shaping up to be the definition of epic. Director Ridley Scott returned to explore more of the Gladiator story, and the cast features some of Hollywood’s most talented breakout stars. Arguably the biggest stars in the world right now include Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, and the protagonist himself, Paul Mescal, who plays the son of Maximus and is set to have a legacy of his own.
The first Gladiator made a whopping $503.2 million at the box office after its release in 2000. The film went on to win 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe.
Gladiator II has finally arrived in theaters, and News47.us has rounded up all the latest updates, including details about the movie’s all-star cast and the roles they are playing.
Paul Mescal on the Irish contingent having a good time and ‘Gladiator 2’ #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/ANBY76rPBA
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) February 19, 2023
Let’s get one thing straight: Maximus is not in Gladiator II. Russell Crowe played Maximus in the 2000 film, and the role cemented him as one of Hollywood’s top stars. As fans will recall, Maximus dies at the end of Gladiator. Unless Maximus returned as a ghost, there’s not really an opportunity to bring back Maximus.
Russell previously addressed the possibility of Maximus’ return in Gladiator II. “I’m sure at some point in time they’ll want to ask me about something, but they haven’t brought anything up in a while,” the Oscar winner told The Ryan Tubridy Show in March 2023. “It’s an extension of the narrative, but it is long beyond Maximus’ passing, so it doesn’t really involve me at all. I hear that young fella Paul [Mescal] is a good dude and I wish him the best of luck with it. I think where they’re picking the story up from, a young Lucius, stepping into the role of emperor. I think that’s a very smart idea within the world of the film that we created.”
In another interview, Russell revealed that he had spoken to director Ridley Scott about the storyline for Gladiator II. “I know roughly how he’s shaping the story,” Russell told the Fitzy & Wippa Podcast. “But yeah, if you remember, there was a young kid who wanted to beat the Gladiator, which leads to the ‘My name is’ speech. So that young kid has grown up, and he’s now the Emperor. I don’t know what else happens at that point, so that’s the idea. So it’s not a remake. And it’s not a direct sequel. It’s not like the day after, you know, 30 years later or something.”
He also admitted to Collider that he’s “slightly jealous” about the sequel. “Because I was a much younger man, obviously, and it was a huge experience in my life. It’s something that changed my life, really. It changed the way people regarded me and what I do for a living, and, you know, I’ve been very lucky to be involved in lots of big movies, but the legs on that film are incredible.”
