TOKYO – Paramount and Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel, “Gladiator II,” will have its Asian premiere on Nov. 5, hosted by the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), organizers announced Friday.
The film’s lead actor, Paul Mescal, will visit Japan for the first time for the premiere, accompanied by co-stars Denzel Washington, Fred Hechinger, and Connie Nielsen, as well as producers Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher.
Mescal plays Lucius Verus II, nephew of Emperor Commodus, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix in the original. After being enslaved, Lucius returns to Rome as a gladiator, driven by revenge and the pursuit of power.
The Asian premiere will take place at one of TIFF’s main venues. A press conference, which will include fan participation, is scheduled for the day before, according to the festival.
TIFF has introduced a new “Centerpiece Screening” section exclusively for the presentation of Scott’s sequel to the 2000 Oscar-winning “Gladiator.”
“We hope that the film will attract a great turnout at the 37th TIFF and become one of the most iconic films of the year,” the festival said in a statement.
Ichiyama Shozo, 37th TIFF Programming Director, added, “‘Gladiator II’ showcases a stellar cast of actors who are riding a wave of success and an even more epic scale that surpasses the previous film. We are honored to screen ‘Gladiator II’ as our Centerpiece, which is undoubtedly one of the most eagerly awaited films by audiences worldwide this year.”
“Gladiator II” takes place over a decade after the first film, which won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor (Russell Crowe), out of 12 nominations. It is based on characters created by David Franzoni, with a story by Franzoni and Peter Craig, and a screenplay by David Scarpa. - Florenda Corpuz
(Photo courtesy of ©2024 Paramount Pictures)
