Started by Ingwar, Nov 01, 2018, 07:58:58 PM
QuoteGladiator 2 swept into the Colosseum at at Caesars Palace, where theater owners were given the first public look at footage from Ridley Scott's epic.Scott sent in a video from London to introduce the piece. "It is possibly even more extraordinary than the first," said Scott of the film. Star Paul Mescal Mescal called it a "standout moment" in his life to date. Denzel Washington said the film will have "emotion" and "spectacle " beyond anything else in theaters this year.In the footage, Mescal is revealed to be a gladiator (apparently, he is not playing the newphew of Joaquin Phoenix's Emperor Commodus, as had been reported). His character is seen fighting murderous monkeys, as well as a soldier on a rhinoceros. At one point, the Colosseum is filled with water for an epic ship battle.The first Gladiator won Russell Crowe a best actor Oscar, and told the story of a Roman general sold into slavery and is forced to fight as a gladiator, all while turning his growing popularity with the people against the murderous Commodus.It seems that Mescal's character is inspired by Crowe's Maximus. "I remember that day. I never forgot it. That a slave could take revenge against an emperor. That a slave could get justice in the arena," he says at one point.The project also delves into politics, with Pedro Pascal playing a military figure who no longer wants to throw away Rome's young men on war — and he to is then condemned to fight as a gladiator. Washington, meanwhile, seems to be guiding Mescal to inspire revolution."The only truth in Rome is the law of the strongest," says Denzel.Going into CinemaCon, Gladiator 2 was among the most anticipated movies, given its pedigree as the sequel to Scott's 2000 best picture winner, and given reports of a large budget that would suggest plenty of spectacle onscreen for the Nov. 22 release.Scott sent in a video message, with stars helping introduce the footage including Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington.Gladiator 2 is a risky proposition for Paramount and for Scott, who takes big swings with his movies that sometimes generate hits, and sometimes don't. His 2023 Apple epic Napoleon grossed $221 million globally, which would be a concerning number for a legacy studio, though the tech giant was not counting on it as a theatrical play. For its part, Paramount is high on Scott, and has enlisted him to direct an upcoming Bee Gees biopic.
Quote from: THREpic First 'Gladiator 2' Footage Leaves CinemaCon Very EntertainedA first look at Ridley Scott's epic debuted (appropriately) at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.GLADIATOR, Russell Crowe, 2000.Russell Crowe in 'Gladiator' DREAMWORKS/COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTIONGladiator 2 swept into the Colosseum at at Caesars Palace, where theater owners were given the first public look at footage from Ridley Scott's epic.Scott sent in a video from London to introduce the piece. "It is possibly even more extraordinary than the first," said Scott of the film. Star Paul Mescal Mescal called it a "standout moment" in his life to date. Denzel Washington said the film will have "emotion" and "spectacle " beyond anything else in theaters this year.In the footage, Mescal is revealed to be a gladiator (apparently, he is not playing the newphew of Joaquin Phoenix's Emperor Commodus, as had been reported). His character is seen fighting murderous monkeys, as well as a soldier on a rhinoceros. At one point, the Colosseum is filled with water for an epic ship battle.The first Gladiator won Russell Crowe a best actor Oscar, and told the story of a Roman general sold into slavery and is forced to fight as a gladiator, all while turning his growing popularity with the people against the murderous Commodus.It seems that Mescal's character is inspired by Crowe's Maximus. "I remember that day. I never forgot it. That a slave could take revenge against an emperor. That a slave could get justice in the arena," he says at one point.The project also delves into politics, with Pedro Pascal playing a military figure who no longer wants to throw away Rome's young men on war — and he to is then condemned to fight as a gladiator. Washington, meanwhile, seems to be guiding Mescal to inspire revolution."The only truth in Rome is the law of the strongest," says Washington.Going into CinemaCon, Gladiator 2 was among the most anticipated movies, given its pedigree as the sequel to Scott's 2000 best picture winner, and given reports of a large budget that would suggest plenty of spectacle onscreen for the Nov. 22 release.Scott sent in a video message, with stars helping introduce the footage including Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Connie Nielsen and Washington.Gladiator 2 is a risky proposition for Paramount and for Scott, who takes big swings with his movies that sometimes generate hits, and sometimes don't. His 2023 Apple epic Napoleon grossed $221 million globally, which would be a concerning number for a legacy studio, though the tech giant was not counting on it as a theatrical play. For its part, Paramount is high on Scott, and has enlisted him to direct an upcoming Bee Gees biopic.
Quote from: Nightmare Asylum on Apr 11, 2024, 06:30:33 PMHuh, pretty shocked that Mescal isn't playing who he was reported to be playing.
QuoteThere couldn't have been a more fitting location for the first look at Ridley Scott's Gladiator 2 than The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Scott's epic sequel came roaring into the Las Vegas venue for CinemaCon, where theater owners got the first peek at his hotly-anticipated swords-and-sandals blockbuster.Scott introduced the footage via video from London, confident in the work he, his cast, and his crew had accomplished. "It is possibly even more extraordinary than the first," he said in the video. Stars Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington both enthused about what's in store for audiences. The footage revealed Mescal's gladiator in ferocious battle mode against some vicious monkeys and, later, a soldier utilizing a beast even more powerful than a horse—a rhino. The Colosseum itself is transformed for one massive battle, in which it's—wait for it—filled with water to allow for a ship-vs-ship high seas clash.Gladiator 2 is the long-awaited follow-up to Scott's 2001 Best Picture Oscar winner, which followed the tortured journey of former general Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe), who went from valor to ruin after his might on the battlefield was viewed as a threat by the fragile, self-appointed emperor of Rome, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix.) Commodus goes to despicable lengths to neutralize Maximus, brutally killing his wife and children and selling him into slavery, where, eventually, Maximus ends up fighting as a gladiator. Gladiator tracked Maxmius's bloody path of vengeance against Commodus, in which the former general turned beloved "Spainard" of the Colosseum gets ever closer to exacting his revenge against the petulant, sociopathic emperor."I remember that day. I never forgot it. That a slave could take revenge against an emperor. That a slave could get justice in the arena," Mescal's gladiator says in the footage shown.Pedro Pascal plays a reluctant military leader who, after questioning the logic of sending so many young men off to die, is summarily sentenced to becoming a gladiator himself for his conscience. Washington plays a mentor to Mescal's young gladiator, pushing him toward rebellion.Connie Nielsen returns from the original film, reprising her role as Lucilla.Gladiator 2 is set to storm into theaters on November 22.
Quote from: 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔈𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱𝔥 𝔓𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔢𝔫𝔤𝔢𝔯 on Apr 11, 2024, 06:50:15 PMQuote from: Nightmare Asylum on Apr 11, 2024, 06:30:33 PMHuh, pretty shocked that Mescal isn't playing who he was reported to be playing.That is quite a surprise. Didn't Ridley mention how his mother, Lucilla hasn't seen him in years?
QuoteThere was something fitting about the setting.Paramount Pictures unveiled the first trailer from "Gladiator II" on the stage of The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, a Las Vegas hotel that reimagines Ancient Rome in all its decadent splendor, albeit with a few more slot machines. Director Ridley Scott seems to be offering a bloodier version of that distant age, one that finds Paul Mescal entering the arena as a nobleman who has renounced his privilege and finds himself in a life-and-death struggle for the amusement of the Roman people.Based on the footage that Scott brought to Sin City to share with cinema owners "Gladiator 2" recaptures the first film's epic sprawl and shattering action sequences. The teaser saw Mescal face off against a charging rhino, a horde of vicious baboons, and Pedro Pascal, among other threats to his chiseled physique. There were also naval bombardments, political intrigue aplenty — and a pair of diabolical emperors who seem even crazier than Joaquin Phoenix's unhinged monarch from the first film.Manipulating everything is Denzel Washington's shadowy operator. He seems to be pulling the strings, intending to use Mescal as a blunt instrument as he looks to steamroll over an empire that's gone seriously off the rails. "Rome must fall," he says at one point in the footage. "I need only to give it a push."The crowd of theater operators gave the big-budget film an enthusiastic thumbs up, but will audiences? One person seems to think so. "It is possibly even more extraordinary than the first," Scott said in a video message. [It] is well worth the wait."Of course, it's no small act to bring back "Gladiator." The 2000 film won best picture at the Oscars and was a box office smash. It was hard to cook up a sequel, however, given that original star Russell Crowe's character doesn't make it past the final credits, nor does Phoenix's character. But Connie Nielsen returns as Lucilla, the mother of Mescal's Lucius, as does Derek Jacobi, playing a member of the Roman Senate. They are joined by an ensemble of heavyweights that includes Washington, who previously worked with Scott on "American Gangster," and "The Mandalorian" star Pascal. Fred Hechinger ("The White Lotus") and Joseph Quinn ("Stranger Things") play co-emperor Geta and co-emperor Caracalla, respectively. Wearing face paint and watching the whole spectacle from their imperial boxes, the duo seem to be treating the proceedings with scenery-chewing relish."Gladiator II" will open in the U.S. on Nov. 22, 2024. "What you're going to see...is emotion, action, and spectacle on a scale unlike anything else in theaters this year," Washington promised.In other words, you will be entertainedhttps://variety.com/2024/film/news/gladiator-2-trailer-cinemacon-paul-mescal-pedro-pascal-1235966363/
Quote from: CinemaBlendI Just Saw Paul Mescal Fight A Rhinoceros For Gladiator 2, And I Couldn't Be More Hyped For Ridley Scott's Sequel.If we are being completely honest, CinemaCon 2024 has been very light on teases. We have seen footage from upcoming movies that have shown a lot of what we expect to come. But only movies like the John Wick spinoff Ballerina and the planned musical biopic for Michael Jackson brought any never-before-seen footage that got the audience in the Coliseum at Caesar's excited. That was until Paramount Pictures closed out its panel presentation with five minutes of exclusive, first look footage from Sir Ridley Scott's Gladiator 2, and it looks more epic than we even could have anticipated. There are several callbacks to Scott's original Gladiator throughout the footage, which makes sense. Even though the initial film came out in 2000, the legacy extends far, being one of the most successful collaborations between Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe. No, we never see Crowe in the footage for Gladiator 2 – his character, Maximus, dies at the end of the movie. But we did get a shot of a hand glancing over the top of fields of wheat... and it made me wonder if we might somehow get Crowe back from the afterlife. That was Scott's original plan for the sequel, after all. I'm still holding out hope.Maximus is referenced early in the footage by Lucius (Paul Mescal), the nephew of Joaquin Phoenix's Commodus who will follow a similar path through the Gladiator ring. Lucius claims to think about Maximus daily, about how a humble man could challenge the powerful through the Gladiator competition. But, per the footage that we managed to see, the challenges in the ring are increasing exponentially. Mescal matches Crowe's physicality and rage. But he's going to face off against hulking adversaries, and animals. ANIMALS! There was a fight scene where the gladiators fought feral, ferocious apes. And in another, Mescal faced off against a gladiator riding on the back of a rhino, whose horn had been bloodied by the corpses of his prey. It was so sick!Ridley Scott already informed us that Mescal's Lucius has lost touch with his mother (Connie Nielsen, returning to her role), and that for all she knows, he might be dead. She still runs in the elite circles, which this time out will be portrayed by Joseph Quinn and Pedro Pascal. Quinn, in particular, seems to be taking his performance cues from Joaquin Phoenix in the first movie, playing spoiled and psychotic. There's even a shot of Quinn's character, Emperor Caracalla, giving the thumbs down. The final major character introduced in the footage is played by Denzel Washington. He will be Mescal's mentor in the movie, someone who coaches him on what is important to the powerful Roman rulers, and schools him on how to manipulate the games to possibly bring them down. It becomes clear as the footage goes on that Washington's character is using Mescal's Lucius for ulterior motives, but they are unclear in this footage.Everything that we saw in the footage was massive in scale and scope. One of the Colosseum battles featured two ships IN THE FLOODED ARENA as they went head to head in battle. The sight of Mescal facing a rhino is unforgettable. And the last bit suggested an expansion of war, as Pedro Pascal's character appears to escalate the battle, leading to a face off in the ring with Lucius.https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/saw-paul-mescal-fight-rhinoceros-gladiator-2-ridley-scott-cinemacon-denzel-washington
Quote from: Deadline'Gladiator II' First Look Gets Thumbs Up & Loud Cheers From Exhibs At CinemaCon.Paramount ended their CinemaCon 2024 on an epic note, that being Ridley Scott's Gladiator II. The logo was unveiled and title made official today at the Las Vegas studio exhibitor confab.Raised stakes here: Rhinos, man-eating monkeys, battling boats in the Colosseum and a very quotable, wise, fierce Roman statesman played by Denzel Washington — he's not an Emperor. Not only does Paramount have a Thanksgiving tentpole locked up here in the sequel to the 2000 Oscar-winning Best Picture, but — wow — they clearly have another awards contender on their hands."It's more extraordinary than the first" beamed Scott in pre-roll footage which also included stars Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen and Paul Mescal.First shot in the trailer is a glimpse of hands sifting through rice, and echo of the famous shot of Maximus' hand skimming over the top of a waving field of wheat in the original film. Says Paul Mescal's son of Russell Crowe's late Maximus in a voiceover, "I remember the days that a slave could take revenge on the emperor, that a slave found justice in the arena.""Can you hear that crowd?" says Washington, "The greatest temple that Rome ever built was the Colosseum..this is what they believe in ...power."The son of Maximus, like his father, is a slave who is more than his worth in the arena, leading a rebellion. Pedro Pascal plays a revered right-hand Roman military leader to the Emperor, but also a fierce fighter in the arena. The battle goes beyond the Colosseum in large-scale epic fights outside of stone edifices — big skirmishes that only Scott can pull off. Connie Nielsen is back, and we see her bestowing Maximus' ring to his son."The only truth in Rome is the law of the strongest," booms Washington — who by the way doesn't seem as despicable as Joaquin Phoenix's Emperor from the first film; he's seen in what appears several moments in the trailer dispensing advice to Mescal.The sequel hits theaters on Nov. 22.https://deadline.com/2024/04/gladiator-2-first-look-paramount-cinemacon-1235882043
