Empire Magazine Oct 2024: GLADIATOR II PAUL MESCAL Joseph Quinn Pedro Pascal

It’s been nearly 25 years since Maximus Decimus Meridius – father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife, you know the rest – stepped into the Colosseum. And when he did, he left everyone entertained. Ridley Scott’s Gladiator stands as one of the filmmaker’s greatest works – taking audiences back to Ancient Rome with full-throttle scenes of bloodthirsty combat, an emotional revenge story, and thunderously epic battles to boot. Now, a quarter of a century later, Scott is thinking about the Roman Empire once again, conjuring a fresh batch of swords, sandals, and seriously huge setpieces for Gladiator. This time, it’s Paul Mescal’s new underdog hero Lucius stepping up for history’s most brutal spectacle – get ready to enter the arena all over again.

The new issue of Empire takes a world-exclusive deep dive into Gladiator II – going toe-to-toe with some of the sharpest minds in cinema to take you inside the historical epic you’ve waited decades for. We discuss the sequel’s long journey to the screen with Ridley Scott; uncover what eventually cracked the story open with writer David Scarpa; armour up with incoming cast members Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn; and break down how Gladiator II connects to the original with returning star Connie Nielsen. Plus, it’s packed with never-before-seen images, ready to take you into the heart of the action – blood, blades, beasts and all.