GLADIATOR II "Making of an Epic" Featurette - "It's Huge, Cecil B. Demille on Steroids"
Paramount Pictures has released a new featurette for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II. It’s called Making of an Epic and it offers an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at what went ionto bringing this historical epic to life.
It features interviews with Scott and members of the cast as they offer additional insight into the story and the film. It also includes a lot of cool footage from the set of the film along with actual footage from the movie. Denzel Washington says the movie is huge, and that it’s “Cecil B. Demille on steroids.”
The story takes place years after Maximus gave his life, upending the leadership of the decadent and corrupt Commodus. The sequel centers on Lucius, the son of Lucilla, and nephew of Commodus, the son of Roman leader Marcus Aurelius who murdered his father and seized the throne.
Commodus met his downfall in the gladiator ring against Maximus, who despite being mortally wounded, took down the emperor before passing on to reunite with his family. Maximus had saved Lucius and his mother, leaving a lasting impact on the young boy.
It’s explained that “decades have passed and Lucius has come of age far away from his mother. While he was still a child, Lucilla sent him to the northern coast of Africa, to a region called Numidia that was (at that point) just outside the reach of the Roman Empire.
“Gladiator II begins with Mescal’s Lucius living a peaceful life with his wife and child until conquerors from his homeland begin to encroach. Scott says: “The film begins with the raiding party of the Roman fleet, which comes in from the sea and decimates Numidia. It’s pretty gnarly.”
Lucius eventually finds himself a prisoner that is taken to Rome, and there he has to fight in the Colosseum. Scott explains how this plays out: “The wrinkle is, when he gets to Rome as a prisoner and has a first round in the arena, he sees his mother—to his shock.”
The film also stars Paul Mescal as Lucius preparing for battle in the Colosseum. Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, Denzel Washington as Macrinus, Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla, Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta, and Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius.
The synopsis reads: “Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist.
“With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.”
The movie hits theaters on November 22nd.