Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II: Release date, cast and everything to know about

Ridley Scott's Gladiator II is the long-anticipated sequel to the 2000 original, Gladiator. The film will arrive in theatres on November 22, 2024, per Deadline.

The film stars Paul Mescal as a grown-up Lucius, the son of returning character Lucilla. Lucius lives a peaceful life with his wife and child in Numidia, only for it to be upturned, thanks to an invasion by General Marcus Acacius.

With his freedom taken away under the tyranny of Roman emperors Geta and Caracalla, Lucius decides to follow in the footsteps of Maximus, the previous film's protagonist, and becomes a gladiator to exact his vengeance on the tyrants who ruined his life.

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Gladiator II cast and characters

The main and supporting cast of Gladiator II are as follows:

• Paul Mescal as Lucius, the son of Lucilla and grandson of Marcus Aurelius. A younger Lucius was played by Spencer Treat Clark in the original Gladiator.
• Connie Nelson as Lucilla, a returning character from the first film and Lucius's mother.
• Pedro Pascal as General Marcus Acacius, who leads a campaign of conquest that results in Lucius's enslavement.
• Denzel Washington as Macrinus, an arms dealer who owns a stable of gladiators.
• Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta and Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla, who are the tyrannical duo ruling over Rome.
• Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus, a returning character from the original film.
• May Calamawy as Lucius's wife.
• Tim McInnerny as Thraex.
• Alexander Karim as Ravi.
• Rory McCann as Tegula.

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Gladiator II follows from the original 2000 classic

The original Gladiator starred Russell Crowe as Maximus. (Image via Universal Pictures)

Gladiator II is the sequel to Ridley Scott's 2000 film Gladiator, which follows General Maximus Decimus Meredus (played by Russell Crowe), a loyal soldier under the reign of emperor Marcus Aurelius.

However, Marcus is murdered by his own son, Commodus, who is incensed when he discovers his father's plans to transition Rome into a republic. When Maximus refuses to swear loyalty to Commodus's usurpation of the throne, Commodus orders his and his family's deaths. While Maximus evades his own capture by killing the Praetorian guards sent to apprehend him, he's too late to save his wife and son.

Maximus is eventually captured by slave traders and sold off to Proximo, a gladiator trainer. While Maximus starts fighting in local tournaments, he eventually learns that Commodus is organizing a gladiator tournament in Rome under the pretense of commemorating his father so that he can win the public's adoration.

Proximus then reveals that he himself used to be a gladiator until Marcus Aurelius freed him and suggests that Maximus become a gladiator in Rome to win the public's favor.

While Maximus first tries to conceal his identity when fighting, he's eventually discovered for who he really is by Commodus, and he vows to avenge his family and his emperor.

Joaquin Phoenix played the evil tyrant, Commodus. (Image via Universal Pictures)

Maximus continues to obtain fame in the Colosseum, and Commodus finds it difficult to have him killed, as that would only make Maximus a martyr with all the fame he has gotten.

Eventually, insiders within the empire, like Commodus's sister Lucilla, Cicero and Gracchus hatch a plan to smuggle Maximus to Ostia where he can reunite with his legions and overthrow Commodus.

However, Commodus catches wind of that, thanks to Lucilla's son Lucius unwittingly tipping him off, and orders the gladiator barracks attacked. Proximus and their men sacrifice themselves to cover Maximus's escape. But Maximus is eventually intercepted when he rendezvouses with Cicero, with the latter getting killed.

Commodus then decrees that he would force Lucilla to bear him an heir to the Roman empire and that he would execute Maximus in a Colosseum battle. Making it clear that he doesn't intend to play fair, he stabs Maximus beforehand.

However, despite being wounded, Maximus successfully fights back against Commodus in the arena and ensures that he dies alongside him. Maximus pleads for a Rome free from the yoke of tyrants with his dying words, but as Gladiator II shows, that future won't come to pass.

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Gladiator II is being distributed by Paramount and will release exclusively in theaters on November 22, 2024.