After months of speculation and anticipation, the first trailer for “Gladiator II” has finally been released, giving fans their first look at the highly awaited sequel. The film stars Paul Mescal (“Aftersun”) as Lucius, now an adult and the young heir from the original movie. When the Roman army attacks his home, Lucius is taken prisoner and becomes a gladiator.
The movie also features returning cast member Connie Nielsen as Lucius’ mother, Lucilla. Joining them are Pedro Pascal as General Marcus Acacius and Denzel Washington as the powerful businessman Macrinus. Macrinus views Lucius as an “instrument” in his secret war against the emperors. The trailer showcases epic fight scenes and includes Easter eggs that reference the original film, while also giving viewers a glimpse of Macrinus’ character.
Black Twitter erupted with excitement upon the release of the trailer, particularly thrilled by Washington’s role. One fan expressed their enthusiasm on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Not sure how I feel about a sequel to one of the best epic films ever made. Since Denzel is in this I will give it a shot. I have a lot of trust in him and I know people do as well. He will be doing the heavy lifting.” Another user emphasized Washington’s enduring appeal, posting, “Denzel has this aura.”
The anticipation for Washington’s performance was evident as another fan declared their commitment to watching the film on “day one,” writing, “It’s Denzel Washington in Rome. Some of you are not about the movies like you say you are.” One user praised Washington’s exceptional talent, tweeting, “Denzel Washington, in my humble opinion, is probably our best living actor. The gravitas he brings to every role is unmatched. The way he’s so effortless in really any genre. I love that guy!!!”
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However, not all reactions were positive. The trailer features the song “No Church in the Wild” by Jay Z and Kanye West, which some fans felt was out of place for a movie set in ancient Rome. Critics argued that the hip-hop track detracted from the film’s historical authenticity and preferred the use of Hans Zimmer’s Oscar-nominated score from the original movie. One disgruntled fan tweeted, “Having a rap song in the trailer is blasphemy when the soundtrack for the first movie is one of the most epic pieces of music ever.”
Despite the criticism, some fans defended the choice, highlighting the trailer’s purpose to generate excitement and appeal to a broader audience. One fan tweeted, “If you’re someone openly clutching your pearls about one of the coolest songs of this century being in the trailer for ‘Gladiator II’ and fitting the content, idk man, go pound until your hands fall off.”
As the first of several trailers and TV ads, “Gladiator II” is set to create buzz and stir conversations. Fans and critics alike will have ample opportunities to voice their opinions before the film’s release, while many eagerly anticipate what promises to be a thrilling cinematic experience.
