Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal & the ‘Gladiator II’ cast has the gays ready to enter the arena
thinking about the Roman Empire again—specifically, the fine cast of Gladiator II, Ridley Scott’s sequel to his Best Picture-winning 2000 film, which is in theaters now.Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, and Djimon Hounsou aren’t starring in this one, but we do have Paul Mescal playing gladiator Lucius, Pedro Pascal taking on the role of Roman general Marcus Acacius, and Denzel Washington stealing scenes as the ex-slave Macrinus.
Plus, up-and-coming actors Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger play Emperors Geta and Caracalla, respectively, while Connie Nielsen plays Lucilla, reprising her Gladiator role.Subscribe to our newsletter for your front-row seat to all things entertainment with a sprinkle of everything else queer.“Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist,” Paramount Pictures teases in a synopsis of the new film. “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.”So far, Gladiator II doesn’t seem like a lock for Best Picture, given critics’ takes on the historical epic.
Observer’s Emily Zemler calls it “equal parts compelling, ridiculous, and uproariously pleasurable,” The Globe and Mail’s Radheyan Simonpillai, however, says Scott doesn’t know what to do with all the “CGI rhinos, apes, sharks, and warships” at play in the movie. “It’s just a bunch of pixels at war with each other, with human stakes left to bleed out,” Simonpillai adds.Washington suggested last week that the movie’s makers “got chicken” about the scene.With a cast this appealing, though, there’s no doubt moviegoers will flock to their nearest colosseum, um, cineplex to check out the action.
Just look at all the thumbs-ups social media users give Gladiator II’s stars in the posts below.Somehow these are the longest.
