Gladiator 2 Cast, Character, and Cameo Guide

The cast of Gladiator 2 It features some of the biggest names in Hollywood, from legendary actors to rising stars. The long-awaited sequel to Ridley Scott’s 2000 film GladiatorThe new film takes place almost two decades after the events of the first film. After a major battle with the Roman Empire, a mysterious young man with uncontrollable rage is sold into slavery and taken to the capital to fight as a gladiator. Unbeknownst to almost everyone he meets, this is Lucius, a former prince of Rome who fled the city as a child.

The long-awaited sequel to Gladiator attempts to recapture the spectacle and scope of its predecessor, which won Best Picture at the 73rd Academy Awards. Initial critical reception Gladiator 2 was positive, suggesting that Scott recaptured the lightning in a bottle that became the first Gladiator into a box office success. Even beyond Gladiator 2Star-studded, the film features many fan-favorite actors from around the world in memorable supporting roles. Here are the stars of Gladiator 2 and where fans have seen them before.

Gladiator 2 Cast and characters
Photo	Actor’s name	Character name
	Paulo Mescal	Pike
	Pedro Pascal	Marco Acácio
	Jose Quinn	Emperor Geta
	Fred Hechinger	Emperor Caracalla
	Connie Nielsen	Lucilla
	Denzel Washington	Macrino

Paul Mescal as Lucius Verus

Born February 2, 1996

Active since: 2017

Actor: Paul Mescal is the star of Gladiator 2taking on the role of the adult Lucius Verus. Born in Maynooth, Ireland, Mescal started out in theater before starring in her first TV show, Normal people. His performance as Connell Waldron earned him several award nominations and a BAFTA TV Award win for Best Actor. He subsequently appeared in several prestige dramas including All of us strangers, God’s Creaturesand After-sun (the latter earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor).

Character: Paul Mescal plays Lúcio, taking on the character played by Spencer Treat Clark in Gladiator. A prince of the Roman Empire, Lucius grew up in relative obscurity in Numidia before the invading Roman army captured him. Sold into slavery and forced to fight as a gladiator, Lucius is driven by rage to take revenge on Rome as a whole – and specifically on Marcus Acacius, the Roman general whose attack ransacked his home and killed his wife. This brings him back to the city he fled as a child, as well as his mother Lucilla.

Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acácio

Born April 2, 1975

Active since: 1996

Actor: Born in Santiago, Chile, Pedro Pascal spent the early years of his career appearing on shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Homeland. Pascal found his breakthrough role with Oberyn Martell in Game of Throneswhich elevated his career and prepared him to appear in several blockbuster films (including The equalizer 2in front of your Gladiator 2 co-star Denzel Washington). The actor achieved international stardom thanks, in part, to his performances in programs such as The Mandalorian and The last of us. He joins the MCU in 2025 as Reed Richards, aka Mister Fantastic in The Fantastic Four: Getting Started.

Character: Marcus Acacius is a Roman general in Gladiator 2and the main target of Lucius’ anger against the empire as a whole. A confident and capable general, Lucius’ work on the battlefield led Rome to expand its empire throughout the known world. However, the general also grows weary of the human cost of this expansion and has silently come to hate the twin emperors Geta and Caracalla, whose orders keep him on the battlefield. Marcus proves to be a quietly complex character throughout the film, especially in Marcus’s contrast with Russell Crowe’s Maximus.

Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta

Born January 26, 1994

Active since: 2011

Actor: Born in London, England, Joseph Quinn made his screen debut in the TV show Zip code. Joseph Quinn established himself as an actor on shows such as Dickensian, Catherine the Greatand Small Ax. He has also appeared in films such as Supreme Lord and Treasure before finding his big break with the role of Eddie Munson in Stranger Things. Gladiator 2 is Quinn’s second successful film of 2024, following his starring role in A peaceful place: first day. It should also respawn next to your Gladiator 2 co-star Pedro Pascal in The Fantastic Four: Getting Startedwhere he will play Johnny Storm, also known as the Human Torch.

Character: Geta is one of the twin emperors in Gladiator 2. The current ruler of Rome, Geta is portrayed as a vengeful and tough figure, with a touch of theatricality. Geta reveals himself to be an ambitious figure who seeks to expand the reach of his empire through the use of the armies under his command. Both emperors believe themselves to be steadfast figures at the top of the Roman Empire, unaware of the turmoil surrounding them. However, Geta proves to be the more cunning and self-aware of the duo.

Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla

Born December 2, 1996

Active since: 2018

Actor: Born in New York City, New York, Fred Hechinger made his film debut playing Trevor in Bo Burnham’s coming-of-age comedy-drama Eighth grade. He appeared in other films such as Vox Luxo and The Woman in the Window. Hechinger found his breakout roles in The Street of Fear trilogy on Netflix and the first season of The White Lotus. Hechinger also established himself as a producer, including serving as executive producer on Thelma. He’ll have his own Marvel role in Sony’s next Spider-Man films Kraven the Hunterwhere he plays Dimitri Smerdyakov, also known as Chameleon.

Character: Caracalla is Geta’s brother and his fellow emperor. The brothers rule the Empire with an iron fist and seek to use their armies to expand their rule across the world. In contrast to Geta’s more specific commands, Caracalla proves to be much more unpredictable. A hedonist whose life of earthly desires left him with his cognitive faculties in decline, Caracalla proves to be a true bloodthirsty man who finds satisfaction in watching the lethal combat between the gladiators.

Connie Nielsen as Lucilla

Born July 3, 1965

Active since: 1984

Actor: Born in the Danish village of Frederikshavn, Connie Nielsen debuted in French cinema Par où t’es rentré? In t’a pas vu sortir. After its debut in the English language in The Devil’s Advocate alongside Keanu Reeves and Al Pachino, Neilsen rose to prominence with her role as Lucilla in Gladiator. She subsequently appeared in several American and Danish films, including action films such as Nobody and TV shows like Close to me. She has also appeared repeatedly in the DC Extended Universe as Queen Hippolyta, Wonder Woman’s mother.

Character: Nielsen reprises her role as Lucilla from Gladiator following. Mother of Lucius and daughter of the former Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, Lucilla was one of the few main characters in the previous film to survive the events of the story. While her son Lucius was sent away from Rome, Lucilla remained and remains a powerful figure in Roman high society. Married to Marco Acácio, Lucilla’s plans to help him fight the Emperor’s control over Rome are complicated by Lucius’ return to the city.

Denzel Washington as Macrinus

Born December 28, 1954

Active since: 1977

Actor: Born in Mount Vernon, New York, Denzel Washington is considered one of the best actors of his generation. Washington rose to prominence with his role as Dr. Philip Chandler on the medical drama Holy elsewhere. Shortly thereafter, he won his first Oscar for his role in the 1989 Civil War epic, Glory. He was the second black actor to win the Best Actor Oscar for his vile performance as corrupt LAPD narcotics officer Alonzo Harris in Training day. Gladiator 2 reunites Washington with director Ridley Scott, who also worked with Washington on American gangster.

Character: Macrinus is a dangerous wildcard in Gladiator 2arriving in the city with plans to gain control of the Empire that previously enslaved him. Having risen from these inglorious origins to become a power broker in his own right, Macrinus arrives in Rome with a contingent of gladiators under his control, including Lucius. Macrinus is a darkly engaging figureworking to charm, intimidate, and kill his way into the role of Emperor, with little concern for the deadly cost of his ambitions.

Gladiator 2 supporting characters

Gladiator 2 Mainly focuses on a new generation of characters, but has a notable return cameo

Gladiator 2The cast of features several notable actors in supporting roleswith one notable figure returning from the first film: Derek Jacobi (Vicious), who reprises his role as Lucilla’s friend and Roman senator Gracchus. Carrying out Macrinus’ orders is the ruthless gladiator trainer Viggo, played by Lior Raz (Fauda). One of the film’s most notable supporting characters is Ravi, a former gladiator turned doctor who befriends Lucius. Ravi is played by Alexander Karim (Image: Disclosure)The Wheel of Time).

The Roman senator Thraex, who is a frequent pawn in Macrinus’ plans, is played by Tim McInnerny (Black Adder). Yuval Gonen (The station) appears at the beginning of the film as Arishat, Lucius’ wife. Peter Menash (Spartacus) appears as a Numidian chief who formed a close bond with Lucius. Matthew Luke (Little Britain), Rory McCann (Game of Thrones), Alec Utgoff (Stranger Things) all appear in small roles. Gladiator 2The cast is full of impressive talent, many of whom shine in just a few scenes of the epic film.