Paramount Pictures debuted the first poster as well as the trailer for  Gladiator II, slated for release on November 22 and starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington. Gladiator II is a sequel to the 2000 original film directed by Ridley Scott, which starred Russell Crowe as Maximus, a Roman general who is forced into slavery and becomes a gladiator in the wake of the death of emperor Marcus Aurelius.  The sequel film is also directed by Scott.

Gladiator II follows Lucius Verus (Mescal), the grandson of Marcus Aurelius and the son of Lucilla (played by Connie Nielsen in the original), as he too is forced to become a gladiator. The trailer opens with Lucius (Mescal) recalling watching Maximus’ (Crowe) final fight as a child:  “I never forgot it. That a slave could take revenge against an emperor.”  In the present day, Lucius is seen allying with Macrinus (Washington) and clashing with Marcus Acacius (Pascal) under the rule of emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger).

The poster features Mescal’s Lucius, who appears to be preparing for a battle in an arena. Gladiator II opens in theaters Nov. 22; check out the trailer: here.

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