ET explains how ‘Gladiator II’ connects to the original movie through Paul Mescal and Connie Nielson’s returning characters from the Oscar-winning epic. Back in 2000, Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott lamented to ET about a canceled fight sequencing involving rhinos. Cut to 2024, the director finally gives audiences his long-awaited vision for the man versus animal showdown in Rome’s Colosseum. Mescal, who plays Maximus’ secret and now-grown son, Lucious, opens up about honoring the first movie’s legacy and how Crowe has been an inspiration for him on and off screen. Denzel Washington praises Mescal’s performance in the sequel, which sees Lucious facing two maniacal Roman royals who emulate Joaquin Phoenix’s breakout role. Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger say they both studied Phoenix’s Commodus, adding praise for Nielson’s guidance as they joined the massive production that was more than 20 years in the making.
