Legacy and New Heroes: The Unfolding Tale of Gladiator 2

Gladiator 2 will connect to Russell Crowe’s Maximus through Pedro Pascal’s character: This movie has an identity shaped by his legacy.

The star, Pedro Pascal, mentions that his character, Marcus Acacius, and Russell Crowe's Maximus Decimus Meridius share a commonality. Pascal expressed that Maximus’s legacy influences the movie’s identity, making it necessary for such an influence to be present. Describing Acacius as a combative person who learned from the best, Pascal highlighted that this legacy of honor is deeply embedded in Acacius's training and existence. According to Vanity Fair, Acacius is a Roman general rumored to have trained as a junior officer under Crowe’s character, while Crowe himself will not appear in the sequel aside from potential archival footage.

Pascal further elaborated that despite the influence, Acacius remains a distinct individual. Maximus's identity is unique and irreplicable, which means Acacius is capable of different feats.

Directed by Ridley Scott and scripted by David Scarpa (Napoleon), the sequel features Paul Mescal as Lucius Verus, the heir to the former empire. Scott described Lucius as a man living "in the wilderness" following a 15-year separation from his family. The cast includes Joseph Quinn as Emperor Caracalla, Denzel Washington as a wealthy merchant who was formerly enslaved, Fred Hechinger as co-emperor Geta, and the return of Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus, and Connie Nielsen as Lucilla.

The film is slated for release in theaters on November 22 in the US and November 15 in the UK.