Almost a quarter of a century ago, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator brought ancient history back to life. Later this year, we’ll get to see him do it again. 

Gladiator II will be released on November 22, 2024, in tandem with Disney’s Wicked, which is sure to be the box-office battle of the year.

The cast is absolutely star-studded, with A-listers like Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington. Connie Nielsen will reprise her role from the original movie, and rising talent Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger will also star. We’ll get more into their roles later.

The original Gladiator film followed former Roman general Maximus (Russell Crowe) as he fought in the iconic Roman Colosseum to challenge the chaotic reign of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), who rose to the throne after slaying his own father, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). In the end, both Commodus and Maximus fall to the sword. 

Watching it all was little Lucius, Commodus’s nephew. Maximus’s bravery and honor made a mark on him, but before he could become the next emperor of Rome himself, his mother Lucilla (Nielsen) sent him to the distant city of Numidia, for reasons not all understood. 

Decades later, a grown-up Lucius (Mescal) is forced to return to Rome as a slave after general Marcus Acacius (Pascal) invades the city. Inspired by the legacy of his father’s death, Lucius becomes a gladiator in the Colosseum to challenge brutal co-emperors Caracalla (Hechinger) and Geta (Quinn). All this while he has to reckon with his mother’s actions and her love for the very general that destroyed his home. Mescal surely has some work cut out for him. 

The new film is drawing audiences cross-generationally, playing on the legacy of the original film and its popularity while also carrying a freshness that pulls in interest from the younger generation of film lovers. As details have slowly been released to the public this year, starting with the casting announcements, each instance has caused quite the stir on social media. 

The film’s cast isn’t the only thing that’s star-studded. The soundtrack for the film will include original music from incredibly popular artists, including Travis Scott, Metro Boomin, Ice Spice, Lil Yachty, Playboi Carti, and Post Malone. If nothing else, the film will sound incredible.

Just last week, official first looks into the film were released via trade publications and social media channels. Seeing their favorite actors all dressed up in ancient Roman gear, fans rejoiced. This, along with menacing character posters, did not disappoint.

On July 9, Paramount Pictures released the official trailer for the film. Featuring clips from major fight scenes and a sneak peek at the famous flooded Colosseum to imitate sea battles, the trailer brought excitement to its peak. As more gets released, fans will only grow more eager to watch the film. We’ll be waiting — perhaps impatiently — for late November with the spirit of the Romans in our hearts!