Ridley Scott Says GLADIATOR II Has the "Biggest Action Sequence He's Ever Done"
Ridley Scott has made some great films that feature some pretty epic battle sequences. He’s no stranger to delivering massive battles in his historical epics, and his next film, Gladiator II, will feature his biggest one yet!
During an interview with Empire, Scott teased what’s coming saying: “We begin the film with probably the biggest action sequence I’ve ever done. Probably bigger than anything in Napoleon.”
Napoleon featured one hell of an awesome battle sequence, so it’ll be interesting to see how Scott tops that, and everything else he’s done.
The filmmaker also talked about the moment in the trailer where Paul Mescal’s Lucius faces off with a rhinoceros in the Colosseum.
“Computerization and AI — you have to embrace it. I can have a computer read every molecule and wrinkle on a rhino and then cut it on a thick piece of plastic, absolutely as a rhino’s body, which is then tailored to a skeleton shape.”
He added, “I have this thing that can do 40 miles an hour, spin on the spot, wag its head and snarl. A two-ton rhino with a guy on its back! I mean, it’s a lot of fun.”
Gladiator II stars Paul Mescal as Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and nephew of Commodus, the original film’s antagonist played by Joaquin Phoenix. Set years after 2000’s Gladiator, the sequel sees Lucius living as a young adult in the northern African region of Numidia, where he was sent by his mother as a child. Events bring Lucius back to Rome as a gladiator, where he makes new enemies and reunites with his mother.
Although Scott didn’t share too many details about the opening action sequence in Gladiator II, he did tease a moment where Mescal’s Lucius faces a rhinoceros in the Colosseum.
The story takes place years after Maximus gave his life, upending the leadership of the decadent and corrupt society. 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.
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 who 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 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.