When Ridley Scott’s highly-regarded historical epic Gladiator first dropped in the year 2000, cinematic history was both quietly and loudly being made. References to Russell Crowe’s line “Are you not entertained">The New York Times, Scott also plans on fitting a Bee Gees biopic and an adaptation of the novel The Dog Stars into his filmography, both set to shoot this year, and the storied director isn’t getting any younger (he turns 88 this year).

Then again, it’s probably unwise to assume that anybody — including the Grim Reaper — is going to succeed in telling Ridley Scott what he can and cannot do, so if Scott decides we’re getting Gladiator III, then we’re probably getting Gladiator III.

Good things take time, but 25 years for a sequel? Ridley Scott has revealed why Gladiator 2 took more than two decades to make — and it’s equal parts silly and amusing.

Writing a sequel to a cinematic masterpiece like Gladiator — especially after your original hero gets killed off — seems like a pretty solid excuse to wait 25 years. But Scott wasn’t sweating there too much. The director recently revealed that the toughest challenge in making Gladiator 2 wasn’t finding a replacement for Maximus, but getting a 6,000-pound non-human warrior on his set which he couldn’t do for the first film despite all efforts.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Scott spilled the tea about everything that went on behind the cameras of Gladiator 2. And while we were surprised to find out that Timothée Chalamet could have been Lucius in place of Paul Mescal, we’re more amused by how Scott’s demand to get a literal beast on his set stopped him from making Gladiator 2 any sooner. If you couldn’t guess who the beast is despite all the hints yet — it’s a rhinoceros.

The director revealed that while shooting the first Gladiator film in 1999, he talked to animal trainers about bringing a 6,000-pound rhino onto his set. However, his ambitions were watered down when he was told that horned animals were too difficult to control. Undeterred, Scott then took the technical route and tried to get a CGI rhino rendered for the movie. But this time, the budget constraints stopped him from getting the rhinoceros into the Colosseum.

And so, producer Doug Wick revealed in a 2020 interview that it became a running joke among Scott and his crew that “If we ever do a sequel, Ridley gets his rhino.” So Gladiator 2 wasn’t becoming a reality unless Scott figured out how to get this giant animal on the set. Fast forward to the sequel’s release, and guess what? Ridley finally got his wish. And, true to form, he couldn’t resist bragging that the “rhino was real right down to his legs.”

In another interview with Empire, Scott revealed how the animal was brought to life to square off against Lucius in the Colosseum. “Computerisation and AI — you have to embrace it,” he said. So by “real,” he meant that he had “a computer read every molecule and wrinkle on a rhino and then cut it on a thick piece of plastic, absolutely as a rhino’s body, which is then tailored to a skeleton shape.” And there you go, we have a rhino who can run “40 miles an hour, spin on the spot, wag its head, and snarl,” all on command.

That being said, getting the perfect script for Gladiator 2 wasn’t a simple walk in the Colosseum for Scott either. A prequel, a fantasy where Maximus returns as an immortal warrior, and many more scripts ended up in the trash before the team finally settled on a tale of vengeance led by Maximus’ son Lucius. But did the sequel come any close to the original? You’re free to give the verdict.

We all have Hollywood favorites, but let’s be real—they don’t need to be squeezed into every other movie, especially not in something like the Gladiator sequel.

When you spend 25 years perfecting a script to continue one of the most iconic stories of the 2000s, that movie better be flawless. Sure, it’s all about the script, the cinematography, and all that technical jazz — but it’s the actors who truly bring it all to life. In a recent interview, Ridley Scott revealed that several big names were considered to play Maximus’ son in Gladiator 2 long before they settled on Paul Mescal. And guess who was among those? Hollywood’s hottest rodent of the year—Timothée Chalamet. (via THR)

Chalamet has certainly skyrocketed to fame in recent years, with both his personal and professional life making headlines practically every other month. He began dating Kylie Jenner, while also starring in silver screen spectacles like Dune and its sequel, as well as indie darling Bones and All, blockbuster musical Wonka, and more. But when fans found out he was almost cast as Lucius in Gladiator 2, they were oddly relieved it didn’t happen. “Nothing against him but this wouldn’t even make sense,” a wrote on X and honestly, we couldn’t agree more.

The Gladiator aesthetic is all about ancient, jacked-up warriors slashing throats with swords and bathing in their enemies’ blood. And Timothée Chalamet? He’s probably more suited to playing the clever, intellectual type than a ruthless fighter. While one argued that “Chalamet has more aura in a leadership role,” which is evident by his acting in the Dune movies, another justified Mescal’s casting over Chalamet, saying, “No way Timmy would have delivered on those Colosseum fight scenes.”

While none of us disagree that Chalamet is a good actor who puts perfection into his roles, the internet collectively agrees that Timmy as Lucius would’ve been a mismatch. And this made all of them thank Ridley Scott and the Gods that he didn’t go on with his idea. “Praise the sun it was not him.” one wisecracked. And on the brighter side, Scott saved Chalamet some serious and rigorous training by not casting him.

In the same interview, Scott revealed another name who was considered to be the junior Maximus—Miles Teller. But then, when Scott saw Mescal in the Hulu series Normal People, he “could immediately imagine the then little-known 28-year-old Irish actor in a codpiece.” Though producer Douglas Wick itted that “Any studio would always prefer to have a known star,” he said that “no other actor came close” to their vision of Lucius. And so, we got our next Gladiator in the face of Paul Mescal.

And before Chalamet fans feel sad that he missed out on such a big role, the 28-year-old will soon be seen as the legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan in the film A Complete Unknown. He’s also set to co-produce and star in an sports drama film Marty Supreme, which is inspired by the life of a professional table tennis player, Marty Reisman. So buckle up because Chalamet isn’t stepping out of the screen anytime soon.

Gladiator 2 is finally here, and as fans get their long-awaited chance to visit the Colleseum once again on screen, those with a bit of cash to spend can now even dress the part. We mean literally, you can dress like a Gladiator, just like in the movie.

If you’ve ever wanted to look and feel like a Gladiator (or perhaps just look like Paul Mescal), then Fandango is giving you your chance with a new prop auction that includes several of the armor pieces from Ridley Scott’s new sequel, with plenty of variety to boot.

From the Roman Infantry gear, Numidian armor, and even a Faux Lion Pelt helmet, it’s all there. If you’ve seen it in the movie then there’s a chance you can own it through this auction, but some pieces are only available for a limited amount of time. By the time this article is published, many of them might already been sold. So get in quick if you have the time (and cash) to spare.

As you’d expect, owning a piece of film history isn’t going to be cheap. Right now, the most expensive item on sale is the Roman Helmet with Faux Lion Pelt, which will have sold for more than $2,200 in the next few hours. The Gladiator Cuirass is the second most expensive piece and is currently bidding for up to $1,600. But for those who don’t want to go crazy, there are some more reasonably priced pieces of the set. Mescal’s two-piece leather Gucci set is unfortunately not included.

You can, however, own the Numidian Helmet for just $399 (you know, pocket change), and for another hundred dollars you could get your hands on a Roman Chestplate. The coolest pieces up for sale are the Praetorian armor, and right now the Cuirass is selling for $599 while its accompanying helmet is $999. For the most dedicated cosplayers, this is one not to miss.

Now is your chance to see this armor in action. Gladiator 2 is finally available to enjoy in the United States after launching abroad internationally the week prior, and it’s off to an incredible start. While it was outdone at the domestic box office this week by the debut of Wicked, internationally it has been a huge hit, bringing the movie’s total haul to over $220 million so far. That’s quite a strong start for a film that only cost $250 million to make.

If you were a fan of the original Gladiator movie, then you won’t leave this sequel disappointed. While the story never eclipses its predecessor (a Herculean feat in itself), the action sequences are incredible and contribute to Gladiator 2 being a must-see in of cinematic spectacle. Of course, if this sounds right up your alley, then you can get tickets in all of the usual places right now.

You might have missed your chance for several of the items in the auction, but if you’re looking to get a piece of Gladiator 2 to display in your home, then it’s still worth checking out the auction which can be found at The Realest right now. Who knows, you might end up with a lion pelt that’ll have you cosplaying Lucius (or maybe just Mescal) until the arrival of Gladiator 3, if that ever happens.

After over two decades, director Ridley Scott returns to Ancient Rome for Gladiator 2, a sequel to his critically acclaimed 2000’s epic starring Russell Crowe. Unfortunately, while Gladiator 2 has enough star power and breathtaking set pieces, it struggles to hit the same emotional chords as the original.

Set about 19 years after the events of Gladiator, the sequel follows Paul Mescal as the adult version of Lucius, the son of Maximus and Lucilla (Connie Nielsen). As we quickly discover, Maximus’ sacrifice in the first movie was not enough to make the dream of the Republic a reality in Rome. So, Lucius, as the rightful heir to the throne, had to hide in distant lands while the vicious twin emperors Caracalla (Joseph Quinn) and Geta (Fred Hechinger) seized power for themselves. Rome is a greedy beast, though, and when the armies of the Empire come knocking at his door, Lucius is forced to confront the past he tried so hard to forget.

Gladiator 2 doesn’t explain the minutiae of its game of thrones, preferring to thrust Lucius into a journey to rediscover his fate and risk his life to restore Rome to its former glory. Of course, this quest goes through the arena as Lucius retraces Maximus’ steps to become a champion of the people, rising against the Emperors’ tyranny. It’s a familiar story made to evoke Gladiator’s success. Too familiar, perhaps, as it constantly reminds the audience Gladiator 2 doesn’t quite reach the heights of the first movie.

Let’s start with the best. Gladiator 2 is a beautiful movie filled with eye-popping combat scenes that are more than worth the theater entry. Thanks to 24 years of technological development in special effects, Scott can unleash his imagination and craft astounding gladiatorial battles that make the audience awe. The first movie is a masterpiece in of set pieces, and the sequel makes justice to its memory by shattering expectations regarding how elaborate the Colosseum spectacles can be.

Sure, some of these scenes will challenge your suspension of disbelief, as they don’t acknowledge the architectural limitation of arenas built with sand and stone. Then again, Scott never allowed things like historical accuracy to get in the way of him shooting a movie. So it’s best not to think much about it, sit back, and just enjoy the show. If you manage to do that, you will be entertained.

Nevertheless, Gladiator is an ageless classic not only due to its ability to wonder, but mainly because it uses the epic to spread grandiose messages of honor, duty, and loyalty. By tapping into universal themes, Scott’s epic transcends the limitations of its historical setting, creating a testosterone-infused story that’s highly seductive. Gladiator 2 does the same, but slightly worse.

Counting the parallels between Gladiator and its sequel is impossible because there are too many. Once again, we have bloodthirsty Emperors who use the Colisseum to distract the people of Rome from their misery while depleting the empire’s resources for their amusement. However, Caracalla and Geta don’t have a single scene to flesh out their motivations. That means that, despite the talent of Quinn and Hechinger, they are only a shallow copy of Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus, shoved into the movie to become oppressors to depose, even though we know nothing.

Mescal suffers from a similar issue. The actor is pouring his heart and soul into Lucius as he tries to give weight to every moment that he’s on the screen. Yet, his character arc is a copy of Maximus’. Once again, we watch as a mighty warrior becomes a slave, is consumed by revenge, and decides to let go of his rage in the name of something greater: the future of Rome. Unfortunately, Gladiator 2 doesn’t manage to get the pacing of Lucius’ rise to glory right, which leaves the awful sensation that we’ve seen the story before — and it was told better elsewhere.

It’s unfair to compare Mescal with Crowe. Crowe fits with Maximus in a way that few actors do with their roles, which is why the general-turned-gladiator is still the star’s most recognizable character. Crowe’s take on Maximus is legendary, and asking Mescal to repeat the feat is unfair. But it seems like Gladiator 2 expects that because instead of giving Mescal a unique adventure, the movie constantly brings Maximus back and forces Lucius to be his shadow.

As for Pedro Pascal, he gets lost in the middle of the plot after a solid first impression, showing the writers didn’t know what to do with new characters. And while it’s nice to see some familiar faces, such as Nielsen and Derek Jacobi, they are often reduced to glorified cameos.

The past also restricts the overall script. Gladiator features a perfect mix of political scheming and bloody combats, so the sequel tries to do likewise. Again, Gladiator 2 mostly mimics the first movie’s main beats, setting up similar twists and betrayals that sabotage any possibility of surprise.

The only major curveball of Gladiator 2 comes in the shape of Denzel Washington. To be fair, Washington’s character doesn’t get the best text to work it. So, it would be understandable if Washington said his lines, got his check, and focused his energy on a more layered role. But no. Washington didn’t come to play in Gladiator 2. He came to win. His Macrinus is the highlight of Gladiator 2, by far, thanks in grand part to Washington’s gravitas. If only he could get a better script, this would easily be a role to consider for the award season.

Washington’s case reflects the issues of Gladiator 2. The sequel was made to be a blockbuster, and it will likely get the box office love it unquestionably deserves. Why wouldn’t it? It has a fantastic cast, juicy action scenes, and a message about integrity that pleases anyone, despite their background. In addition, it was a near-impossible achievement to one-up Gladiator, a movie that set the tone of Hollywood epics for decades. So, the fact the sequel doesn’t sur the original is not even unexpected. The problem is that Gladiator 2 doesn’t even try to do its own thing.

Even if Gladiator 2 has enough fresh pieces to build something new, it still tries to shove everything into the same picture that was Gladiator. In place of a fully-fledged sequel, we get a retelling of what came before, adapted to a new generation. That’s enough to make a good movie, for sure, but it is not enough to make a masterpiece.

Paul Mescal, whose filmography includes three of the most devastating performances ever put to film, says his new movie, The History of Sound with Josh O’Connor, is the saddest thing he’s ever made.

In an interview with Variety to promote his first major blockbuster lead role in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, the Irish actor confessed that, out of all the scripts he’s read in his still short but incredibly well-curated career, the gay romance film by Oliver Hermanus (Living, Beauty) “broke his heart the most.”

That is a bold statement to make for an actor whose breakout role came in the adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People, also known as one of the most heart-wrenching love stories to grace television screens in the last decade. Even bolder when you consider he received his first Oscar nomination in 2023 for playing a suicidal young father in Charlotte Wells’ beautiful time-capsule directorial debut, Aftersun. He then followed that little happy pill with his third most acclaimed performance in Andrew Haigh’s queer ghost story, All of Us Strangers, as fellow Irishman Andrew Scott’s ambiguous, melancholic neighbor-turned-boyfriend. We’re genuinely concerned about what to expect from The History of Sound now, if Mescal’s comments mean it will out-sad his frankly unbeatable streak of somber.

The actor himself is aware of his “sad boy” reputation and has expressed his fear of being typecast as a tortured soul in the past. “I do want to expand my range in of genre, and scale of film. I have this perpetual fear that if I keep making films like this, people will get bored of me and they’ll think I’m just perpetually sad,” he told Awards Watch in 2023. The projects he has in the pipeline won’t do much in the way of changing this perception, but the one he has coming to theaters this November might.

Mescal’s turn as the son of Russel Crowe’s Maximus, Lucius Verus, in Scott’s return to the arenas of the Roman Empire has been labeled “compelling” and “magnetic as always” in early reviews for the film. Still, it seems his swordplay and bravado did not leave critics or audiences feeling nearly as breathless as they did over the earnestness and emotional vulnerability of past roles. Not for long, however, seeing as the next year or so will see Mescal lead the foreseeably gloomy The History of Sound and Hamnet — both currently in post-production.

In The History of Sound, Mescal and O’Connor (who’s been having an equally exciting ascension into the Hollywood A-list over the last couple of years) play lovers in rural New England during the First World War, who forces to compile “the lives, voices, and music of their American countrymen,” per the film’s IMDb page. In a recent Vanity Fair cover issue, O’Connor described it as a film about “grief, companionship, and music,” as well “as what happens in life when you fall in love with someone, and maybe that connection is broken.”

The 28-year-old actor is so invested in becoming the ultimate king of Pathos that he decided to become an executive producer in the film, telling Variety he plans to launch his own “super small and writer-led” production company one day. Asked whether he’d be primarily looking for films that “emotionally devastating and full of latent trauma,” Mescal replied “Oh yeah, that’s definitely the territory!”

Hamnet we know less about, but considering it will center William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway’s lives after the death of their titular 11-year-old son, we’re not exactly expecting unicorns and rainbows. Mescal stars as the great English playwright and reunites with The Lost Daughter‘s Jessie Buckley in the role of his wife.

Neither have a release date just yet, but both are expected to arrive next year. Mescal might have taken a break from making us cry in 2024, choosing to make us sweat instead, but it sounds like the balance will be restored in 2025 and onwards as he continues to build his legacy as one of the greatest dramatic performers of his generation.

If we don’t get that Denzel kiss cut released right away, Ridley Scott and I are going to have some serious problems. Even a sneak peek will do.

“How gay is the Roman Empire” was the question asked by Gayety to the man, the myth, Macrinus aka Denzel Washington when the actor dramatically revealed that he had actually “kissed a man” in his epic action Gladiator 2. Right then, we all gasped just like the interviewer, both in awe and disappointment. Awe because Oh. My. God. and disappointment because the kiss didn’t quite make it past the cutting room floor. “They took it out, they cut it, I think they got chicken,” Washington confided.

This juicy tidbit came from Gayety’s Oct. 31st interview, where Washington discussed his role as the ruthless Macrinus, a former slave plotting to seize control of ancient Rome. But forget the blood-soaked battles and political intrigue—the real drama came in the form of his unexpected and first-ever on-screen gay kiss. “I kissed the guy full on the lips and I guess they weren’t ready for that yet,” Washington said.

While he didn’t spill the beans on the identity of his lucky lip-lock partner, Washington did drop a deliciously dramatic detail: “I killed the guy five minutes later” in the film. He also called the kiss “the kiss of death” and a source confirmed to The Post that the kiss was filmed but it “wasn’t a sexy kiss.” The kiss had all the ion of a dagger to the heart, fitting Washington’s “kiss of death” label.

But hey, a kiss is a kiss, and now we all will be watching Gladiator 2 with our eyes peeled for every guy Macrinus slays, taking notes on which one might have had the honor of tasting those fatal lips before death. On that note, we need to congratulate Scott. It must’ve been fun keeping the scene all to yourself and leaving us all hanging?

What makes this revelation even more frustrating is that it comes right after we hear of a forehead kiss between Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal getting omitted from the film’s final cut. Like okay, we get that they want the film to be all about big tough guys with their swords clashing against each other and buckets of blood, but a little fan service doesn’t hurt anybody.

Given that Denzel Washington is eyeing a break from acting soon after he finishes his last batch of films, this was probably our only chance to ever see him anywhere near a man’s lips. And we all already know that the Roman Empire was all for same-sex romance, so it’s a bit of a missed opportunity that the kiss didn’t make the final cut.

But okay, life has to go on. We can still catch the soon-to-be-70-year-old actor delivering his signature action sequences, albeit in a hot Roman soldier ensemble that’s sure to make even the gods take notice. The epic sequel will rush into the US theaters on Nov. 22 and is already in the buzz for several potential Oscar wins.

Was Training Day really that long ago? That’s the question fans have all been asking in light of recent Denzel Washington news.

In a conversation with Australia’s Today (via Variety), the iconic actor reported that retirement is in his future. While this is a major loss for Hollywood, no one can really blame him. Washington has been firing on all cylinders since the ’80s, a fact that is easy to forget when he keeps pumping out hits. The Malcolm X actor reminded the outlet that he is now about the play a repeat character in the Broadway production of Othello.

“I played Othello at 22. I am about to play Othello at 70.”

There are very few things that Washington hasn’t done at this point in his career, and he wants to only do high-caliber projects. But before retirement, he has some heavy hitters in the works.

“After [Othello], I am playing Hannibal. After that, I’ve been talking to Steve McQueen about a film. After that, Ryan Coogler is writing a part for me in the next Black Panther. After that, I’m going to do the film Othello, After that, I’m going to do King Lear. After that, I’m going to retire.”

Washington’s schedule still appears to be jam-packed, and there is one role that stands out specifically among the rest.

King Lear will be the perfect send-off

Denzel Washington has had a lot of experience with critical acclaim and theater runs. The Oscar-winner may be most ed for his dramatic roles on the screen, but he has also been a friend to the stage, especially in Shakespeare ventures. Only in 2021 did the actor take on one of the playwright’s most famous parts. In Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, Washington co-stars with s McDormand in the play that made everyone afraid of saying the title in the theater. He has proven his aptitude with the material, making Othello and King Lear anticipated returns to form. King Lear, in particular, seems like a calculated decision for Washington to make as his final role.

King Lear is famous for elevating many older actors with its subject material. Played in the past by actors such as Anthony Hopkins and Ian McKellen, the play follows a wizened king who separates his kingdom between three daughters. A tragedy in every sense of the word, the story deals with the mental decline of Lear and the death of his favorite daughter. A meaty role for any actor, fans can look forward to a new interpretation.

Of course, there is also Washington’s plans to enter the MCU, which will be a crowd pleaser for fans. It is the one thing he hasn’t done yet, and that is understandable. Comic book movies have not always had the best reputation, and Marvel hasn’t had the greatest run recently. However, a union between Ryan Coogler and Washington seems obvious in retrospect.

Before Marvel, Coogler made a name for himself alongside Michael B. Jordan with films such as Fruitvale Station and the Creed franchise. Now the director is helming a Jim Crow-era vampire film with Jordan in the lead. Coogler’s MCU work is not the most impressive thing he’s done, but Black Panther continues to stand apart from other Marvel works.

The second Black Panther film, Wakanda Forever, was a heartfelt meditation on grief, following Chadwick Boseman’s death from cancer. The film hands the mantle of the Black Panther over to Shuri (Letitia Wright), who is in the grips of grief following the death of T’Challa (Boseman). Black Panther has always been more than just a comic book film and fans can trust Coogler to deliver. While there has been no confirmation of a Black Panther 3 or who the actor will be portraying, the choice to add Washington to the cast couldn’t be better.

Washington habitually works with acclaimed actors and cinema is better for it. His highly- anticipated collaboration with Ridley Scott is next on the release docket. Gladiator II stars Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal, a star-studded film that will be a return to form to cinema. Full of rhinoceroses, baboons, and shark-infested waters, Scott holds nothing back in the sword and sandals epic. Fans can see Washington’s role as Macrinus when Gladiator II premieres in theaters on November 22.

Gladiator 2 is one of the most highly anticipated sequels of 2024 and the follow-up to one of the most loved action movies of all time, so it’s not a surprise that fans are expecting a lot from this, the latest Ridley Scott film.

When it comes to having a stacked cast, Gladiator 2 can hang with any movie of today. Scott has assembled a team of talented actors that includes Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and a whole lot more of the stars you know and love.

With all of this backing it, you’re probably left wondering how good the movie actually is, and thanks to the first reviews shared on Rotten Tomatoes, we now know. Gladiator 2 appears to be good, but nothing so far has suggested it’s the breakout sequel that many might have hoped for.

Right now the movie holds a 74 percent critic score on the review aggregator site, which is almost identical to the 79 percent rating that the first film acquired over the years. However, according to the first reviewers, the duelling Rotten Tomatoes score aren’t the only similarity between the movies.

The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney called the film an “entertaining but imitative sequel,” and he isn’t the only one that to share this same sentiment. Film critic Mark Johnson praised the movie’s quality but criticized it for relying too heavily on flashbacks from the first film to ensure audiences are caught up.

You might be thinking that the sequel being similar to the first film isn’t a bad thing because of how great the original was. However, most critics say that it has failed to live up to the first movie. Still, the majority of reviews are positive, and one thing that has been praised across the board is the fight scenes, so if you’re hoping to see another movie with incredible hand-to-hand combat, then you’re in for a treat.

Failing to reach the heights that Gladiator did isn’t all that surprising. The movie was released in 2000 and went on to win several awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture and several other Oscar wins for its cast. It was without a doubt one of the best movies of the early 2000s.

Before you form your opinion on the sequel without even seeing it, we suggest you hang tight and wait until audience reviews begin to poor in. It’s not uncommon for reviewers to be harsh on movies, especially when they’re a sequel to something as iconic as Gladiator, so wait and see what your fellow movie-goers think before writing it off entirely.

The good news is that you don’t have to wait long to see the movie yourself. Gladiator 2 will be released in theaters across the United States on Nov. 22. By this point, we’ll have a much better idea of what the audience reception is, and how it fares in comparison to those oft-snobbish critics. Alongside its U.S. premiere, Gladiator 2 will arrive in other countries including the United Kingdom and Australia a week prior on Nov. 14. If you’re now set on seeing the movie, you can secure your tickets for the sequel now at all of the usual places.

In a world where studios bet on reboots, not even commercials are safe. Pepsi has just enlisted the help of Megan Thee Stallion and Travis Kelce for an ad spot that recreates one of its most iconic commercials.

With Gladiator II set for premiere this November, the time has come for a brand-new Gladiator-inspired ad. In 2004, the soft drink giant released one of the best-ever Super Bowl commercials with a lot of star power. At the height of their careers, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Pink, and Enrique Iglesias made history in a Gladiator-inspired commercial called “Roman Empire.” Iglesias played the emperor, while the three successful superstars posed as arena fighters.

Trying to replicate the success of an iconic project is difficult, but nothing works better than nostalgia, and this is probably the argument of many big studios or brands. Ahead of the start of the 2024-2025 NFL season, Pepsi released a new campaign titled “Make Your Gameday Epic,” and epic it was.

Megan Thee Stallion is giving Mother as she replicates Pepsi’s Gladiator ad

Nothing shows more progress than casting women in important roles and this time, the space left by former Emperor Enrique Iglesias (the ultimate Hero Highness) is filled by none other than Megan Thee Stallion. The focus in the previous Pepsi ad was between Spears, Beyoncé, and Pink, all with their separate styles and fandoms. However, the new ad highlights no one more than Stallion, and fans are here for it.

The ad features Queen’s iconic “We Will Rock You” song from the Britney/ Bey/ Pink commercial, but it’s an updated version featuring new lyrics from the Grammy award-winning rapper called “We Will Rock You (Megan Thee Stallion Version).” Since this is an NFL ad, Pepsi hired Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce, Buffalo Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen, Baltimore Ravens’ running back Derrick Henry, and Minnesota Vikings’ wide receiver Justin Jefferson. The athletes took the role of gladiators in the arena.

Stallion seemingly realized that she’s finally made it, posting the ad on her social media , letting her “Hottie” fandom know that “we are officially famous” following her Pepsi commercial. “A Pepsi commercial is such a huge deal,” Megan gushed to PEOPLE. “I feel like it’s the rite of age that all the baddies have to go through, like Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Pink — and now Megan Thee Stallion.”

Fans couldn’t get enough, in the comments of her original post, Pepsi’s Instagram post, or all over X. “Oh Megan stays BOOKED and BUSY! Other rap girls can’t relate!,” wrote a thrilled fan. Several simply ed the conversation to state that she’s giving “Mother” vibes, with another acknowledging that she’s part of “the elite sacred circle,” which is as star-studded as it gets.

Pepsi is a longtime NFL sponsor, and the full-length ad, directed by Jake Scott in collaboration with Paramount Pictures, clocks in at three minutes. Aside from the massive star power, the commercial also features actors Lamorne Morris and Jake Lacy. With Ridley Scott releasing the sequel to the 2000 blockbuster Gladiator on Nov. 22, NFL season kickoff, and Megan Thee Stallion hosting the VMAs on Sept. 11, the new ad is a great homage to some of the biggest names of today, fully honoring the pop-filled 2004 ad.

There is a fair share of ruggedly handsome men in the cast of Gladiator II, but we’re willing to bet Ridley Scott didn’t imagine Denzel Washington would be the one causing the most commotion when two of the last decade’s biggest heartthrobs are leading the charge in the Ancient Rome blockbuster (and wearing minimal clothing while doing so, too).

Don’t get us wrong, Denzel is one of the finest actors to ever do it (and we mean that in both senses of the word), but to steal Mescal and Pascal’s thunder at 69 years old is still pretty impressive.

It turns out that all it took for the Gladiator II conversation to become all about Denzel was for the award-winning actor to get a buzzcut, a hoop hearing, flash the smug grin that has become an immediate sign of a banging performance, and flex his signature New York accent. Now, the internet is confidently reminding everyone that the Training Day maestro has always been a looker.

“Denzel outlasted all the sex symbols. Your granny, mom, wife, and daughter all think he’s attractive,” one X very accurately described — a sentiment shared by another fan who noted the actor’s generational appeal. “The way his name was a synonym for handsome in black popular culture,” he noted.

The thirsting goes on. Like fine wine, as they say.

Denzel plays Macrinus in the Ridley Scott sequel to the 2000 mega-hit — a ing character who will seemingly manipulate Mescal’s protagonist Lucius into doing his bidding as he attempts to destabilize the Roman Empire of Caracalla and Geta (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger). Marcinus is an influential power broker and arms dealer who Ridley describes as “pretty [expletive] cruel.”

There is no doubt the New York native stands out in the clip. Even seconds-long scenes and dialogue, roughly cut to fit the rhythm of a fast-paced trailer, are enough for Denzel to make a lasting impression. That kind of power is exclusive to a small, very gifted group of artists.

Gladiator II hits theaters globally on Nov. 15, and a week later, on Nov. 22, in the United States and Canada.

24 years after the 1st Gladiator blew viewers minds with its stunning visuals and heart pounding battle sequences, directory Ridley Scott is finally presenting fans with a second installment. Russell Crowe might not be reprising his role as Maximus, but a bang up cast of gorgeous men has been tapped to carry the historical epic on their broad and capable shoulders.

Pedro Pascal and Paul Mescal are set to carry the burden of being hotter than the surface of the sun, and as usual, Pascal and his army of loyal fans are more than happy to oblige. If seeing “Papa Pedro” in yet another grizzled role wasn’t enough to send fans’ pulses racing, Mascal’s physical transformation has blood pressure spiking. In the wake of the film’s first looks, X.com is awash with excited fans, and some of them might need a cold shower.

Even “professional Pedro fans” were blindsided. Who can blame them? between the stoic look and prefect facial hair( despite being a dirty, dirty boy), Pascal really pulls off the grizzled veteran. A role he perfected as Joel Miller in The Last of Us.

While most of us were busy gazing at the absolutely gorgeous costuming, others were focusing on the olfactory rather than the visual. The below wasn’t the only one to beg for a whiff of Mr. Pascal, and We’re starting to think that some of ya’ll need some serious help.

Pascal is a great actor who’s nailed the challenging roles Hollywood has recently tossed his way, and many fans were happy to see his name attached to the project. Ever since he donned his first set of armor in Game Of Thrones, he’s been nailing some absolutely iconic battle-ready roles.

Speaking of Game of Thrones, while most of us are ridding high on him as a hardened Roman Legionnaire, others are really struggling with that season 4 PTSD.

Though Pascal is the better known of the handsome leading men, Paul Mescal had plenty of love thrown his way. The actor opened up to Vanity Fair surrounding his “Roman nose” insecurities, and fans were quick to let him know just what benefits his shcnoz could offer. Ladies, you do know everyone can read these comments, right?

To prepare for his role as a gladiator, Mescal had to get absolutely shredded. Pascal told Vanity Fair that he would “rather be thrown from a building than have to fight him again.” The older actor even gave him the nickname, “Brick Wall Paul.” Something tells me that once Mescal’s fans get ahold of that one, thirsty Tweet production will skyrocket.

Mescal’s fanbase isn’t limited to women. Even his male audience was wowed by his budging muscles. If a picture is worth 1000 words, how much is a GIF?

Fans were quick to lament his single status, but at least some acknowledge their shortcomings. The only relationship the actor has been in publicly was the Indie singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers.

The reveal of Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn‘s characters revved more than a few fan engines as well. Most commenters were quick to declare Washington the MVP, but Quinn was getting a little less love. While fans might not have thought he looked as regal as Washington, they did find parallels to another royal in his blond locks.

It might not be giving Roman Emperor, but it is some kind of Queenly.

Gladiator was was an incredible movie that helped land Joaquin Phoenix on the map, and many of Quinn’s fans are hopeful the Gladiator II could do the same for the under-appreciated actor.

We’re excited to see how Quinn handles the dramatic role, but one thing’s for sure, that pallor combined with that hair is definitely making X s feel something.