Paul Mescal fights off Pedro Pascal in new Gladiator II trailer

A new trailer for Gladiator II, starring Irish actor Paul Mescal has been unveiled.

Mescal interprets Lucius in the Ridley Scott Sequel – the son of Russel Crowe’s love interest in the original, Lucilla, played by Connie Nielsen, who will be reprising her role. The cast will also be joined by Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn.

In the new film, Lucius lives as a young adult in Numidia, where he was sent as a child by his mother. Events bring Lucius back to Rome as a gladiator, making new enemies and reuniting with his family.

In a recent interview with Empire, Scott revealed that the upcoming film features an action sequence that’s larger than anything he’s done in the past, saying it was “probably bigger than anything in Napoleon.”

The filmmaker also shared with the French publication Premiere that he already has his sights set on a third instalment of the franchise.

When asked about it by the same publication, Mescal said: "Yes, Ridley told me about it, but only yesterday. So I'm waiting to see what happens, but I'm interested, of course. But we can't rush anything: the story has to hold together."

Gladiator II is set for Irish release on November 15.