Director Ridley Scott returns to the arena with Gladiator IIthe long-awaited sequel to its record-breaking historical drama Gladiator. Mirroring real life, the story of Gladiator II is set 20 years after the events of the first film and follows Lucius Verus, who was just a child in the original. Nominated for an Oscar (After-sun) Paul Mescal plays Lúcio in Gladiator IIand is supported by a cast that includes Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington and Fred Hechinger.
Few actors since the first Gladiator returned for the next film, but the Gladiator II the cast probably includes the one who matters most. Connie Nielsen reprized her role as Lucilla, the mother of Lucius Verus, and is a key player in the events of the sequel. In between her turns as Lucilla, Nielsen also appeared in Wonder Woman, Basic, and One hour photo.
TelaRant spoke with Connie Nielsen about her return to Ridley Scott’s epic world of action, drama, and questionable historical accuracy. Nielsen spoke about her desire to reunite with Scott and the experience of returning to a Gladiator set. Nielsen even expressed his hopes for a return of Hippolyta in James Gunn’s DC Comics universe.
Connie Nielsen talks about reuniting with Ridley Scott and continuing Lucilla’s story in Gladiator II
The actor praised the expanded role that his character has in the sequel
Screen Rant: I love that some characters came back to fill the time gap that exists. But the first Gladiatoralmost 25 years ago, it was absolutely incredible. Instant classic. It was the first DVD I bought. This one follows suit and gets it right in the same way. What happened to this new story of Gladiator II Did that convince you it was the right time to reprise your role as Lucilla?
Connie Nielsen: Well, first of all, the opportunity to work with Ridley again was really important. And then there was this option of “My God!”, continuing to tell Lucila’s story. Mainly because they didn’t tell me anything about what would happen to her in the beginning. They just said, “You’ll be happy, Connie.” And they know me, so when I finally read the script, I thought, “Yeah, I’ll be happy.” So we began that incredible process of working with Ridley and the incredible team of hundreds of people he brought with him – from the very first. Entering the arena that first day back was an absolutely surreal experience.
At the same time, too, I was very excited to tell the story of this woman who Ridley created to hold within her a crumbling empire, a crumbling legacy from her father, the loss of a son and – across the world. this – this heart that is being loved by an incredible man called Pedro Pascal. And then [there’s] this moment when she meets her son again. These are incredible experiences and situations that Ridley created for me. How could I be anything but excited?
In a male-dominated world, how does Lucilla navigate her existence to maintain influence and protect those she cares about?
Connie Nielsen: The same way people who have been repressed and have been repressed throughout history have done. That is, [with] the knowledge that the internal integrity of every human being is essential. Whatever we call power out there is Fata Morgana. That doesn’t exist. True power is in you as a human being and the integrity of that human self and the freedom to pursue it, even if it is through the loss of life…that is what power is.
She knows this and maintains this personal integrity even when she is being used as a hostage, a golden hostage, to legitimize these completely illegitimate rulers. She knows that the future is freedom and that the only kind of legitimacy lies in mutual respect and respect for a certain kind of values that these people don’t have, and that is her power. No one can beat this.
Nielsen hopes to reprise her role as Hippolyta in James Gunn’s DCU
“I certainly hope… to be in it.”
Another strong character you play is Wonder Woman’s mother, the queen of Themyscira. We know this Amazon show is coming, that James Gunn is doing, it’s a prequel to Wonder Woman. Have you talked to James Gunn about reprising this role and bringing that world back?
Connie Nielsen: I would love to talk to him. We thought it would be a great idea to do this. Fans loved the entire Themyscira chapter. People went crazy about it all over the world. Not creating that again and continuing that legacy would feel like a terrible loss, and so I certainly hope they do that and that I’m in it.
More about Gladiator II (2024)
Gladiator 2 is the sequel to Ridley Scott’s award-winning 2000 film Gladiator. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal starring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villainous Emperor Geta.
Check out our others Gladiator II interviews here:
Source: Screen Rant Plus