Ahead of the film's highly-anticipated release in November 2024, get to know the actors behind the monumental movie and see the Internet's reactions to their favorite men of the moment in all their gladiator glory.&nbsp;

Although the trailer for&nbsp;Gladiator II&nbsp;has yet to be released to the general public, interest is already soaring after preview images from the film have been revealed. From <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/music/nell-mescal-paul-mescal-sister-singer-musician" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paul Mescal</a>'s heavily muscled portrayal of Lucius in the ring to Denzel Washington's cool, calm, and collected appearance in the stands, it's safe to say fans are pleased with director and writer <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/vanessa-kirby-napoleon-empress-josephine-ridley-scott" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ridley Scott</a>'s casting choices.
Following in the footsteps of the original&nbsp;Gladiator&nbsp;film, released 24 years ago,&nbsp;Gladiator II&nbsp;has already provided the public with plenty of material to fawn over as the Internet waits for the film's November 2024 release. Fans have also noted that another highly-anticipated film,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/wicked-movie-details-ariana-grande-cynthia-erivo-trailer-release-date" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wicked</a>&mdash;starring Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, and Jonathan Bailey&mdash;releases the same day, prompting a Barbenheimer effect already guaranteed to rival the original phenomenon.&nbsp;
Whether you're anxiously awaiting the appearance of your favorite Hollywood <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/every-bridgerton-handsome-man-heartthrob-actor-luke-newton-rege-jean-page-jonathan-bailey-ton-newcomers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heartthrob</a> on the silver screen or you're a loyal Gladiator&nbsp;fan eagerly anticipating an action-packed sequel, we've got you covered with a guide to the main cast of Gladiator II and details into the role each character plays in the electrifying plot.&nbsp;

Much like the rest of us, after watching <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/sally-rooney-new-book" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Normal People</a>, director Ridley Scott was struck by Paul Mescal's emotional, gut-wrenching, wildly impactful performance as Connell&mdash;a sensitive jock turned literature student at Trinity College who struggles with authenticity in his social life, grapples with expressing raw emotions to friends and romantic interests, and endures a deep depression following a close friend's suicide. 
Aside from his masterful stint as Connell, Mescal is also beloved by the Internet, critics, and the general public for his emotional appearances in films like&nbsp;All Of Us Strangers&nbsp;and&nbsp;Aftersun, his trend-setting street style&mdash;you can thank Mescal for bringing back short shorts for men back in style&mdash;and his wonderfully charismatic, yet humble public persona.&nbsp;
In&nbsp;Gladiator II, Mescal stars&mdash;happy news for fans of the actor, many of whom are likely seeking as much screen time devoted to Mescal's captivating transformation into a strong, powerful warrior&mdash;as Lucius, Commodus' nephew and a viciously-talented gladiator who reveres the late Maximus. As the son of Lucilla, played by Connie Nielsen in both the original film and the upcoming release, he is a fierce warrior and a frequent presence in the fighting arena.&nbsp;
"I watched this show called&nbsp;Normal People. It&rsquo;s unusual for me, but I saw one and thought, that&rsquo;s interesting," Scott said in an interview with <a href="https://deadline.com/2023/11/ridley-scott-napoleon-gladiator-2-joaquin-phoenix-interview-1235600742/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deadline</a>. "These actors are really good I watched the whole goddamn show and thought, damn. So this came up at a time when I need a 23-year-old, 24-year-old to take up the mantle of Lucius. And I just said, you want to do it? He said, yeah."
As a former rugby prodigy, Mescal is no stranger to the intensive training the role of Lucius required, but for him, that was only part of the struggle in conveying Scott's lead role. "Of course there&rsquo;s a physical robustness required for the character, but past that, I&rsquo;m not interested," Mescal said in an interview with <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/feature/paul-mescal-aftersun-oscar-nomination-normal-people-gladiator-1235330756/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hollywood Reporter</a>. "This guy&rsquo;s got to fight and got to be a beast. And whatever that looks and feels like is right for me, is what it&rsquo;s going to be. Sometimes I see films and I&rsquo;m like, &lsquo;That person doesn&rsquo;t look real.&rsquo;"

Yet another one of the Internet's favorite heartthrobs, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/bella-ramsey-video-last-of-us-pedro-pascal-game-of-thrones" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pedro Pascal</a>, makes a welcome appearance in&nbsp;Gladiator II&nbsp;as Marcus Acacius, a seasoned gladiator who is expected to battle Mescal's Lucius.
Although little is known about the scope of his character, fans are overjoyed to see the actor take on another major role&mdash;which is the latest in a series of ultra-viral characters, think The Last of Us' Joel and&nbsp;The Mandalorian's Din Djarin, portrayed by Pascal.&nbsp;

Two-time Academy Award winner <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/denzel-washington-facts-kids-john-david-katia-wife-pauletta" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Denzel Washington</a> joins the cast of&nbsp;Gladiator II&nbsp;as Macrinus, a gladiator-turned-arms dealer. Although Washington is famously quite selective about the projects he signs on to, one meeting with Ridley Scott, director and writer of&nbsp;Gladiator II, was all the convincing he needed.&nbsp;
&ldquo;He likes to actually see them fight and it evolves that that&rsquo;s where he came from,&rdquo; Scott said in a <a href="https://deadline.com/2023/11/ridley-scott-napoleon-gladiator-2-joaquin-phoenix-interview-1235600742/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deadline</a> interview regarding Washington's character. &ldquo;He was captured in North Africa, and evolved into a free man because he was a good gladiator. But he hides that because also he&rsquo;s now realizing the potential of his actual power.&rdquo;
Following the reveal of Macrinus' appearance in the film, fans of the legendary actor have taken to social media to share their major feelings on the actor's physical transformation for the film.&nbsp;

Devoted fans of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/who-is-a-quiet-place-joseph-quinn-british-actor-stranger-things" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joseph Quinn</a> did a double-take when imagery of his fresh, new look for&nbsp;Gladiator II&nbsp;was released. In a strawberry blonde-bordering-on ginger haircut, the actor has shed his famous long locks&mdash;as seen on Stranger Things' Eddie Munson&mdash;and even his recent closely-cropped cut for&nbsp;A Quiet Place: Day One.&nbsp;
In Gladiator II, Quinn took on the role of the scheming Emperor Geta&mdash;offering fans both new and old a glimpse of his wide range when it comes to characterization. With lighter-hued eyebrows, a startlingly serious stare, and his new hairstyle, Quinn effortlessly looks the part of a sinister emperor set on achieving his goals.&nbsp;

Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla

Although <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/sabrina-carpenter-barry-keoghan-couples-style" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Barry Keoghan</a> was originally slated to play Emperor Caracalla, the Irish actor ended up having to drop out of the monumental film due to scheduling conflicts, but luckily for fans of the original film, Fred Hechinger picked up the role in his stead. Although he gained traction as a young actor in films like&nbsp;Eighth Grade and the&nbsp;Fear Street&nbsp;trilogy, Hechinger has pivoted to an entirely new world of cinema, as seen in&nbsp;Gladiator II&nbsp;and&nbsp;Kraven The Hunter, his other upcoming project.&nbsp;
In&nbsp;Gladiator II,&nbsp;the 24-year-old actor plays Emperor Caracalla, brother to Joseph Quinn's Emperor Geta. Amid a slowly crumbling Roman Empire, the two take up the joint mantle of emperor to attempt to patch up the legendary civilization.&nbsp;

Fan Reactions To&nbsp;Gladiator II&nbsp;Cast

Curious to see how the release of initial imagery from&nbsp;Gladiator II&nbsp;has broken the Internet? Join&nbsp;L'OFFICIEL&nbsp;in appreciating some of the most on-point takes and relatable reactions from fans of the star-studded cast.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Your Guide To All The Heartthrobs In 'Gladiator II'

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