The action-packed trailer for the highly-anticipated Gladiator sequel starring Paul Mescal has finally been unveiled and sees the Irish actor battling a rhino and crossing swords with Pedro Pascal.
The 28-year-old Maynooth native is taking on his first major Hollywood role in the long-awaited sequel to the 2000 Oscar-winning epic starring Russell Crowe.
Gladiator II picks up from where the first film left off and follows Mescal's Lucius, the now-grown-up son of Lucilla, played by Connie Nelson, and his fight for survival under the rule of tyrannical general Acacius (Pedro Pascal).
The new outing is set 20 years after the events of the original movie, with the estimated era for the sequel being 200AD.
A synopsis of the film reads: "Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist.
"With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people."
Denzel Washington appears in the film as the wealthy powerbroker Macrinus, while Stranger Things and A Quiet Place: Day One star Joseph Quinn and The White Lotus actor Fred Hechinger play co-emperors Caracalla and Geta.
Mescal recently said the training for his leading role was focused on making him look "big and strong" rather than "an underwear model".
In an interview with US publication Variety, Mescal said that his preparation for the demanding role centred around fight choreography rather than workouts designed to sculpt muscle.
Meanwhile, his co-star Pedro Pascal, known for The Last Of Us and Narcos, said he referred to Mescal as "Brick Wall Paul" due to his physical transformation for the part.
"It's brutal, man. I call him Brick Wall Paul," Pascal told Variety. "He got so strong. I would rather be thrown from a building than have to fight him again.
"To go up against somebody that fit and that talented and that much younger…. Outside of Ridley being a total genius, Paul is a big reason as to why I would put my poor body through that experience."
Director Scott revealed to the same publication that he discovered Mescal when watching the actor in his breakout role as Connell Waldron in Normal People.
The filmmaker said Mescal was "a special find" and "absolutely perfect" for the role.
Gladiator II is set for release on 15 November 2024.
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