Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal go behind the scenes of the Crucial Gladiator II battle [EXCLUSIVE]

Gladiator IIThe VOD release date is quickly approaching and TelaRant is pleased to present an exclusive clip of two stars detailing one of the film's pivotal scenes. A direct sequel to Ridley Scott's 2000 box office hit (and Best Picture winner) Gladiatorthe sequel follows Maximus' son. Lucius Verus Aurelius, who returns to Rome as a prisoner of war and is forced to fight in the Colosseum. Paul Mescal leads the cast of Gladiator IIchanneling the veritas of Russell Crowe, and he is joined by Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger as new characters in the familiar world of Ancient Rome.

However Gladiator II takes place just a few decades after the original, Connie Nielsen is the only actor to reprise a major role from the original. She plays Lucius' mother Lucilla, whose romance with Maximus was a major plot point. Gladiatoralthough she is now married to Pascal's Marcus Acacius. In fact, Acácio is the man responsible for the devastation of Lúcio's adopted land and the death of his wife in battle, which makes their relationship in the film quite controversial.

In fact, the relationship between Lúcio and Acácio is precisely what TelaRantMescal and Pascal's exclusive clip details the “violent dance” they do in the arena. Watch the clip here and read more about the Gladiator II home launch below.

Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal analyze the turning point in their Gladiator II dynamic

“I would like to emphasize the age difference here.”

TelaRantThe exclusive clip focuses on the climactic showdown between Lúcio and Acácio as they finally face off in the arena. The build-up to this moment is crucial, as Lúcio spends most of the film up to that point planning his revenge against Acácio due to the events ofBattle of Numidia, in which Acacius' army of Roman soldiers defeated the Numinidians, Lucius' wife was killed, and Lucius himself was taken prisoner.

By the time the one-on-one battle takes place, however, it becomes clear to the audience and to Lucius that Acacius is not bloodthirsty like his leaders, the emperors Geta and Caracalla. He and Lucilla are actually conspiring to defy said emperors, which is how he ends up in the position of fighting Lucius in the arena. The whirlwind of emotions, uniting Acacius and Lucius in their fight against the corruption of Rome (not to mention their shared connections with Lucilla and Maximus), makes for a delightful fight scene.

In the exclusive clip, Mescal and Pascal explain why they personally find the moment so fascinating. They also discuss the epic scale of the scene, and Pascal jokes that their age difference is the reason his character doesn't necessarily get the better of the film's hero. This BTS moment is available in the Digital release, which arrives on December 24th, as well as in 4K Ultra HD and other physical versions that will go on sale in 2025.

Check out the bonus content available in the home release here:

• A dream that was Rome: origins — Director Ridley Scott and producers delve into the story behind Gladiator II and how the story developed over many years before it hit the screen.
• What we do in life echoes in eternity: the cast – Take a look at Ridley Scott's casting process.
• In the Arena: Filmmakers – Go behind the scenes as the cast and crew travel to Malta, Morocco and the UK for the epic production.
• For those who are about to die, we salute you: combat — Discover how Ridley Scott and his team combined choreographed combat with cutting-edge visual effects to take the action to a whole new level.
• Building an Empire: Post-Production — Join the filmmakers to gain insight into the fascinating process of crafting the finished film, which includes a soundtrack session led by composer Harry Gregson-Williams.
• The production of Gladiator II — Explore how Ridley Scott and the cast and crew worked to bring Gladiator II to life.
• Deleted scenes

More about Gladiator II (2024)

It will soon be launching at home in more ways than one.

From legendary director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue and revenge set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced into the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now rule Rome with an iron fist. With anger in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find the strength and honor to return Rome's glory to its people. Gladiator II is rated R for strong bloody violence.