Gladiator 2 is finally out in the UK – and we can't wait to return to the arena. Some 24 years ago, Ridley Scott's original Gladiator movie became a surprise box office hit – raking in hundreds of millions at the global box office – and becoming one of the best action movies of all time. But, despite the film's massive success, a sequel was never made... until now..
If you need a quick recap, the original film followed Russell Crowe's Maximus Decimus Meridius on a journey of revenge. And while he may not have had the happiest ending, now his son is following in his footsteps. Gladiator 2 was officially announced in 2018 and immediately became one of the most anticipated new movies of 2024.
But you may wonder what story Gladiator 2 tells, given the first film's emotional, jaw-dropping climax. Is Russell Crowe making a comeback? And what are critics saying about the new flick? Well, we have all the details below. From the Gladiator 2 release date, reviews, cast, trailer, and more, here's everything you need to know before watching the film.
Gladiator 2 release date
Grab your wallets because the Gladiator 2 release date is set to hit theaters on November 22, 2024, in the US and was released on Friday, November 15, in the UK.
This means that we’ll get to see the Ridley Scott movie go head-to-head with the upcoming musical Wicked – which is also set to release on November 22. While the UK doesn't have a double bill day, who knows, we may get another Barbenheimer situation as the two movies hit the big screen together over the pond. Gladiator and witchy cinema outfits, anyone?
Whether you choose to dress up for the occasion or not, we are excited to have two big movie release dates for the price of one this November!
Gladiator 2 reviews
The Gladiator 2 reviews have been pretty positive at the time of writing. Most critics recommend the movie with it holding a score of 75% on Rotten Tomatoes.
We personally gave the flick an impressive four-star rating in our Gladiator 2 review, writing: "The return to form by Scott is notable, proving that he still has the cinematic power to visually engage and excite audiences."
However, some reviews have called the film "underwhelming," so it will be interesting to see how general opinions change after more folks have seen the sequel.
Gladiator 2 plot
Considering how the first Gladiator ended, it should shock no one to hear that Gladiator 2 won’t be following Maximus Decimus Meridius. Instead, the new movie takes place 15 years after the first movie and centers around Lucius Verus.
But before all of you Maximus fans start to worry about the new lead character, you’ll be pleased to hear that Lucius will be facing a very similar predicament to the original leading man. Gladiator 2 sees Lucius thrown into a life of slavery after his home is invaded by General Marcus Acacius.
Just like Maximus did before him, Lucius is determined to fight his way as a gladiator in the arena in order to avenge his family and oppose the new young emperors, Caracalla and Geta. Lucius is also the son of Maximus, Russell Crowe's iconic character from the first movie – which adds a layer of complexity to his character: can he fight the way his father did?
We don't want to give too many spoilers away here, but you can look at these first-look images posted by Vanity Fair on July 2, 2024, to see Paul Mescal as Lucius in the arena for a taste of the action in this flick.
In terms of backstory, Gladiator 2 touches on Lucius’ childhood. Lucius’ mother, Lucilla, sent him to the northern coast of Africa as a young boy. Basically, it was for his own good, hiding the rightful heir away from his enemies and forcing him to get stronger. Obviously, this adds some family drama to the plot, so you can also look forward to seeing that unfold.
Again, we don't want to give too much away, but we'll also say that the Gladiator 2 plot gives way to another movie. In fact, Ridley Scott told Total Film that he's begun work on the script for Gladiator 3. "I’ve already got eight pages. I’ve got the beginning of a very good footprint," he revealed.
Honestly, Gladiator 2 is packed, and its plot is epic for sure. We recommend giving the first movie a rewatch, just so you are fully caught up on all the backstory and ancient Rome politics. You can also read our Gladiator review if you need a quick refresher!
Gladiator 2 trailer
The first Gladiator 2 trailer gives a hint of the epic follow-up that Scott has in store. It begins with Paul Mescal’s character, Lucius, speaking to Denzel Washington’s Macrinus. Lucius recalls watching Maximus as a boy as he shares his hopes to take down Rome.
In him, Macrinus sees an "instrument" as they plot together to cause chaos for a crumbling empire. Lucius’ target? Pascal’s Marcus Acacius, who is a high-up General working for emperors Geta and Caracalla. As he plots his way up the ranks of the gladiators, Lucius faces a rhino in a particularly brutal exchange, as we also see the Colosseum filled up with sharks.
The second Gladiator 2 trailer, which can be viewed above, contains a massive reveal: Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) tells Lucius that his father was Maximus – the very same Maximus from the first film, played by Russell Crowe. "Lucius, take your father's strength," she tells him. "His name was Maximus, and I see him in you." We also see Lucius fighting a baboon, a rhino, and Pedro Pascal.
Gladiator 2 cast
The Gladiator 2 cast is filled with A-list stars. Leading the sequel is Paul Mescal as Lucius. Denzel Washington is set to appear as Macrinus, a former slave with a hatred for the current emperors of Rome. And, taking a break from preparing for The Last of Us season 2 is Pedro Pascal as the disgraced general Marcus Acacius.
Connie Nielsen is also returning to play Lucius’ mother, and we will see Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger embrace their inner villains as they take on the roles of co-emperors Caracalla and Geta respectively.
Recently speaking to GamesRadar+, Hechinger revealed that his character is inspired by punk star Sid Vicious stating: "It is amazing, we spent time building that and when Ridley [Scott] and I first talked, we talked a lot about Sid Vicious. We talked a lot of influences that you might not expect in a world like that, but I found it to be very inspiring, and liberating, and wild."
Read the full Gladiator 2 cast list below:
- Paul Mescal as Lucius Verus
- Denzel Washington as Macrinus
- Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius
- Connie Nielsen as Lucilla
- Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus
- Joseph Quinn as co-emperor Caracalla
- Fred Hechinger as co-emperor Geta
- Tim McInnerny as Thraex
- Lior Raz as Viggo
- Peter Mensah as Jubartha
- Matt Lucas as the Master of Ceremonies
- Yann Gael as Bostar
- Alexander Karim as Ravi
- Alec Utgoff as Darius
- Yuval Gonen as Arishat
- Rory McCann as Tegula
While the list above is packed, you may have noticed that we are missing a few names. Firstly, Djimon Hounsou (who played Juba in the first movie) had to back out of the sequel due to scheduling conflicts. And, of course, Russell Crowe is missing in action for this sequel.
Is Russell Crowe in Gladiator 2?
Sorry to break all your Maximus hearts, but Russell Crowe has no involvement with Gladiator 2. However, during the Gladiator 2 ending, there was a scene that could have been a sneaky shot of the star.
In the new movie, we see a ringed hand touching the wheat fields during a scene where Lucius asks his father to speak to him. Russell Crowe isn't in the credits but some theories said hand is his. We're currently investigating the rumors, so stay tuned!
However, at least we can all rest easy with the fact that there was no Maximus zombie walking around in Gladiator 2; that would have turned the sequel into a horror movie, after all.
If you are after more star power in the meantime, you can read our list of the best war movies of all time.
If you are a fan of Gladiator, why not check out our list of the best 2000s movies ever made? Or, if you prefer streaming instead of a trip to the cinema, here are the best Netflix movies to enjoy from the comfort of your own home.
