“Gladiator 2” Gets First Poster

The official poster for the highly-anticipated sequel to the 2000 historic epic movie “Gladiator“ has been unveiled.

Leading the historical epic is Paul Mescal, who landed the plum part of Lucius, the nephew of Joaquin Phoenix's Commodus, as his ascent to A-list stardom continues.

The sequel was announced in 2018 and sees filmmaker Ridley Scott returning as director to the follow-up of his war movie.

Scott is also set to produce the project along with Scott Free President Michael Pruss and Red Wagon Entertainment’s Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher. David Scarpa wrote the screenplay. Paramount will produce the movie.

Universal, which backed the first movie along with DreamWorks, has the right to co-produce the movie once it has been set up.

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"Gladiator 2" is described by producers as a “legitimate” follow-up. It is scripted by Peter Craig and will take place in a 25-30 year time jump.

The sequel follows Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) in the original — the second daughter of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and the nephew of Marcus’s son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), who murdered his father to seize the throne. 

In Gladiator, Commodus wound up in the gladiator ring with Maximus (Russell Crowe)— who, though mortally wounded, skewered the emperor before fading into the great beyond to reunite with his slain wife and son. Maximus saved the boy and his mother while avenging his own family, and left a strong impression on young Lucius.

The sequel also stars Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, and Joseph Quinn. Also reprising his role from the first movie will be Derek Jacobi, who played Senator Gracchus. Crowe isn’t in the sequel as his character dies in the first movie. 

The first movie was a massive hit and won five Oscars from 11 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe.

Douglas Wick, Scott, Lucy Fisher, Michael Pruss, and David Franzoni produced, with Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald, Raymond Kirk, and Aidan Elliott serving as executive producers.

Scott has previously shared more of the role played by Mescal. "He’s playing Lucius," Scott told Rotten Tomatoes. The director recalls Lucius was around “12 years old” when we last saw him, and for 15 years, “he’s been out in the wilderness and has lost touch with his mother. His mother lost touch with him. She doesn’t know where he is. She thinks he might be dead."

Paramount Pictures is distributing the sequel to “Gladiator” globally. The sequel will open on November 22.  "Gladiator II" is set to open against the first chapter of Universal Pictures’ "Wicked", along with the Angel Studios drama Bonhoeffer.