After months of speculation and guessing by fans, we’re finally getting our first look at “Gladiator II” with the release of the trailer. The movie stars Paul Mescal (“Aftersun”) as Lucius, an adult version of the young heir from the original film. When the Roman army attacks his home, he’s taken prisoner and becomes a gladiator.
In addition to a returning Connie Nielsen as Lucius’ mother, Lucilla, the cast also includes Pedro Pascal as General Marcus Acacius and Denzel Washington as powerful businessman Macrinus.
Macrinus sees Lucius as an “instrument” in his secret war against the emperors. The trailer features a lot of epic fight scenes and a few Easter eggs that callback to the first movie. In the midst of all the action we get a better understanding of what to expect from Macrinus.
As excited as we were when those photos were released, Black Twitter was even more crazy about the first footage.
One fan made it clear that the legend’s casting is the main draw for their interest, writing on X, “Not sure how I feel about a sequel to the one of the best epics film 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 perfectly summed up why we’re still so infatuated with the Oscar winner, posting, “Denzel has this aura.”
One fan who noted that they would be at the theater on “day one,” posted, “It’s Denzel Washington in Rome. Some of you are not about the movies like you say you are.”
Another person has an excellent grasp on why we keep following the “American Gangster” star to all his films, writing on X, “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!!!”
Of course, we can’t have nice things, so it wasn’t all good news. The trailer features the song “No Church in the Wild” by Jay Z and Kanye West. This seems to be a real problem for movie fans who want the teaser to have a more authentic Roman Empire feel. There are also those who feel they should have used Hans Zimmer’s Oscar-nominated score from the original film.
One: This is the first trailer. Its purpose is to get people excited and talking, which is what’s happening. Two: Like it or not, hip-hop is extremely popular and its inclusion will bring in a segment of the audience who may not have previously been interested. Three: They’re probably saving the first film’s epic score for the final push, just before the movie’s release.
What this all boils down to is some of y’all need to relax because it’s just a three minute movie trailer.
Someone who takes their movie trailers way too seriously took issue with the music choice, writing on X, “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.”
Another person who took offense with the music posted, “Can we have a movie trailer without hip hop and just use the original score of the movie like begin 2000s?”
At least one fan seemed to be thinking straight, writing on X, “If you’re someone openly clutching your pearls about one of the coolest songs of this century being in the trailer for ‘Gladiator 2’ and fitting the content, idk man, go pound until your hands fall off.”
This is just the first of several trailers and TV ads before the movie is finally released, so these film snobs and racists should pace themselves. They’ll have plenty of chances to spread their hateful nonsense around the internet before the rest of us enjoy what looks like a fun time at the theater.
“Gladiator II” storms into theaters Nov. 22.