FILM NOTES: From GLADIATOR to THE BATMAN PART II & More

Monday, July 1, 2024

Photos of the Day: Our First Sneak Peek at GLADIATOR II...

Paul Mescal (who plays the adult version of Lucius from 2000's GLADIATOR) and Pedro Pascal engage in a fierce duel in this promotional still from GLADIATOR II.

Earlier today, Vanity Fair shared a couple of promotional stills from this November's Gladiator II...which is once again helmed by Ridley Scott and stars Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou (Quinn and Hounsou are also in the recently-released A Quiet Place: Day One, which I watched at the theater last weekend) and Barry Keoghan.

Based on these images, the Gladiator sequel looks to be just as intense as the 2000 original film (starring Russell Crowe, Nielsen, Hounsou and Joaquin Phoenix)—which went on to winning the Oscar for Best Picture in early 2001. Crowe himself won the Best Actor Oscar for his role as Gladiator's Maximus Decimus Meridius.

I surely hope that Gladiator II is just as good as its predecessor and will be an awards favorite come this winter...though I'm still disappointed that Hans Zimmer isn't returning to compose the music score for the upcoming epic. Harry Gregson-Williams, who worked on such movies as The Martian, Shrek, Man on Fire and The Equalizer, respectively, will have that duty.

The teaser trailer for Gladiator II will be released online next Tuesday, July 9...with the film itself being unleashed in theaters nationwide on November 22. Can't wait!

Connie Nielsen, who returns as Lucius' mother Lucilla, in this promotional still from GLADIATOR II.