The cast ofGladiator 2boasts some of Hollywood’s biggest names, ranging from legendary actors to up-and-coming stars. The long-awaited sequel to Ridley Scott’s 2000 filmGladiator, the new movie takes place almost two decades after the events of the first film. In the aftermath of a massive battle with the Roman Empire, a mysterious young man with unstoppable rage is sold into slavery and brought to the capital city to fight as a gladiator. Unbeknownst to almost everyone he encounters, this is Lucius, a former prince of Rome who fled the city as a child.
The long-awaited sequel toGladiatorattempts to recapture the spectacle and scope of the predecessor, which won Best Picture from the 73rd Academy Awards. The earlycritical reception toGladiator 2has been positive, suggesting that Scott has recaptured the lightning in a bottle that turned the firstGladiatorinto a blockbuster smash hit. Even beyondGladiator2’s stars, the film features plenty of fan-favorite actors from across the globe in memorable supporting roles. Here arethe stars ofGladiator 2and where fans have seen them before.
Born Jul 11, 2025
Active Since:2017
Actor:Paul Mescal is the star ofGladiator 2, taking the role of the grown Lucius Verus. Born in Maynooth, Ireland, Mescal got his start in the theatrebefore starring in his first TV show,Normal People. His performance as Connell Waldron earned him several award nominations, and a win for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor. He has subsequently appeared in several prestige dramas, includingAll of Us Strangers,God’s Creatures, andAftersun(the latter of which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.)
Aftersun
Callum Patterson
Character: Paul Mescal plays Lucius,taking over the character played by Spencer Treat Clark inGladiator. 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 made to fight as a gladiator, Lucius is driven by rage to take revenge on Rome as a whole — and specifically Marcus Acacius, the Roman General whose attack sacked his home and killed his wife. This brings him back into proximity with the city he fled as a child, as well as his mother Lucilla.
Born July 02, 2025
Active Since: 1996
Actor: Born in Santiago, Chile, Pedro Pascal spent the early years of his career appearing in shows likeBuffy The Vampire SlayerandHomeland.Pascal found his breakout role with Oberyn Martell inGame of Thrones, which elevated his career and set him up to appear in several blockbuster films (includingThe Equalizer 2, opposite hisGladiator 2co-star Denzel Washington). The actor reached international stardom thanks in part to his performances in shows likeThe MandalorianandThe Last Of Us. He joins the MCU in 2025 as Reed Richards aka Mister Fantastic inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps.
The Last of Us
Joel Miller
Character: Marcus Acacius is a Roman General inGladiator 2, andthe main target of Lucius' rage at the empire as a whole. A confident and capable general, Lucius' work on the battlefield has led Rome to expand its empire across the entire known world. However, the general also grows weary of the human cost of this expansion and has quietly grown to hate the twin Emperors Geta and Caracalla, whose orders keep him on the battlefield. Marcus proves to be a quietly complex character across the film, especially inMarcus' contrast to Russell Crowe’s Maximus.
Born July 20, 2025
Active Since: 2011
Actor: Born in London, England, Joseph Quinn made his screen debut in the TV showPostcode. Joseph Quinn established himself as an actor in shows likeDickensian,Catherine the Great, andSmall Axe. He also appeared in films likeOverlordandHoardbeforefinding his big break with the role of Eddie Munson inStranger Things.Gladiator 2is Quinn’s second blockbuster film of 2024, following his major role inA Quiet Place: Day One. He’s also set to reappear alongside hisGladiator 2co-star Pedro Pascal inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, where he’ll play Johnny Storm aka the Human Torch.
A Quiet Place: Day One
Eric
Character: Geta is one of the twin Emperors inGladiator 2. The current ruler of Rome, Geta is portrayed as a vindictive and harsh figure, with a touch of theatricality. Geta proves to be an ambitious figure who seeks to expand the scope of his empire through the use of the armies at his command. Both Emperors believe themselves to be impervious figures at the top of the Roman empire, unaware of the unrest brewing around them. However, Geta proves the more cunning and self-aware of the pair.
Born June 01, 2025
Active Since: 2018
Actor: Born in New York City, New York, Fred Hechingermade his film debut in the role of Trevor in Bo Burnham’s coming-of-age dramedyEighth Grade. He appeared in other films likeVox LuxandThe Woman in the Window. Hechinger found his breakout roles in TheFear Streettrilogy on Netflix and the first season ofThe White Lotus. Hechinger has also established himself as a producer, even serving as an Executive Producer inThelma. He’ll get his own Marvel role in the Sony Spider-Man films in the upcomingKraven the Hunter, where he plays Dimitri Smerdyakov aka the Chameleon.
Fear Street
Simon Kalivoda/Isaac
Character: Caracalla is Geta’s brother and his fellow Emperor. The siblings rule the Empire with an iron fist and seek to use their armies to expand their rule across the world. In contrast to the more specific commands of Geta, Caracalla proves to be far more unpredictable. A hedonist whose life of earthly desires has left him with declining cognitive faculties, Caracalla proves to have a real bloodthirsty that is satisfied by watching lethal combat between the gladiators.
Born August 16, 2025
Active Since: 1984
Actor: Born in the Danish village of Frederikshavn, Connie Nielsen made her film debut in the French filmPar où t’es rentré ? On t’a pas vu sortir. Following her English-language debut inThe Devil’s Advocatealongside Keanu Reeves and Al Pachino,Neilsen rose to prominence with her role as Lucilla inGladiator. She has subsequently appeared in a range of American and Danish films, including action films likeNobodyand TV shows likeClose to Me. She also appeared repeatedly in the DC Extended Universe as Queen Hippolyta, mother of Wonder Woman.
Nobody
Becca Mansell
Character:Nielsen reprises her role Lucilla fromGladiatorin the sequel. The mother of Lucius and the daughter of former Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Lucilla was one of the few main characters of the prior film to survive the events of the story. While her son Lucius was sent away from Rome, Lucilla stayed and remains a powerful figure within Roman high society. Married to Marcus Acacius, Lucilla’s plans to help him combat the Emperor’s control over Rome is complicated by Lucius' return to the city.
Born July 14, 2025
Active Since: 1977
Actor: Born in Mount Vernon, New York, Denzel Washington is regarded as one of the best actors of his generation. Washington rose to prominence with his role as Dr. Philip Chandler in the medical dramaSt. Elsewhere. Not long after, he earned his first Academy Award for his role in the 1989 Civil War epic,Glory. He was the second black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor with his villainous performance as corrupt LAPD narcotics officer Alonzo Harris inTraining Day.Gladiator 2reunites Washington with director Ridley Scott, who also worked with Washington onAmerican Gangster.
American Gangster
Frank Lucas
Character: Macrinus is a dangerous wild card inGladiator 2, arriving in the city with plans to gain control over the Empire that formerly enslaved him. Having risen from those 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 figure, working to charm, intimidate, and kill his way to the role of Emperor, with little concern for the mortal cost of his ambitions.
Gladiator 2’s Supporting Characters
Gladiator 2Mostly Focuses On A New Generation Of Characters, But Has One Notable Returning Cameo
Gladiator 2’s cast features a number of notable character actors in supporting roles, with one notable returning figure from the first film: Derek Jacobi (Vicious), who reprises his role as Lucilla’s friend and Roman Senator Gracchus. Carrying out the orders of Macrinus is the merciless gladiator trainer Viggo, who is played by Lior Raz (Fauda). One of the film’s more notable supporting characters is Ravi, a former Gladiator turned doctor who befriends Lucius. Ravi is played by Alexander Karim (The Wheel of Time).
The Roman Senator Thraex, who is a frequent pawn of Macrinus' plans, is played by Tim McInnerny (Blackadder). Yuval Gonen (The Station) appears early in the film as Arishat, Lucius' wife. Peter Menash (Spartacus) appears as a Numidian Chieftain who formed a close bond with Lucius. Matt Lucas (Little Britain), Rory McCann (Game of Thrones), Alec Utgoff (Stranger Things) all appear in small roles.Gladiator 2’s cast is full of impressive talent, many of whom shine in just a few scenes of the epic film.
Gladiator II
Cast
Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
