Gladiator 2: First photos of Paul Mescal in costume, and Russell Crowe, “embarrassed”, denies any cameo

No flashback for Maximus, but the new hero is very reminiscent of the one from the 2000 film.

24 years after the crazy success of his epic, Ridley Scott returns to control of Gladiator 2. A sequel filmed for several months in Malta, in grandiose settings reconstructed especially for the occasion. Russell Crowe is no longer part of the adventure, the film will now follow Lucius (Paul Mescal), the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and nephew of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). He will be surrounded by the premiere, as well as Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn.

The first outdoor filming photos showing Paul Mescal in costume are starting to filter through, and the least we can say is that his look is strongly reminiscent of Maximus at the time. It must be said that the British filmmaker reunites here with Janty Yates, his Oscar-winning costume designer for Gladiator and who often works alongside him (on Kingdom of Heaventhe last Alien, House of Gucci, Napoleon…)

Despite this resemblance noticed by all, Crowe swore to Deadline that he would not return in this sequel: no cameo or flashback planned for the 60-year-old actor despite the fact that he was seen in Malta last July.

Upset by the strike, Gladiator 2's budget would have exploded

Crowe also says he feels “a little uncomfortable” compared to Gladiator 2.

“Of course I'm dead, so I have no say, just explained the actor of years to Kyle Meredith (their exchange is to be seen herein VO). But I'm a little embarrassed by the fact that they're making a second one. I heard a few things about the story and I was like: 'Oh, no, no, no, that doesn't fit with this character's moral journey…' Well, it's not for me to say, I'm six feet under. So let's see what it really looks like.”

Paul Mescal, 28, preferred not to try to contact the star of Gladiatorexplaining: “I'm not sure what we could talk about, actually? Of course, I'd love to know his anecdotes from the set, but my character is so different from his.”

Gladiator 2 is due out in theaters on November 20. Its first teaser was recently shown at conventions, and caused a sensation.

The first images of Gladiator 2 hit hard at CinemaCon