TOKYO – The main cast of “Gladiator II” premiered the highly anticipated sequel at the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) on Nov. 5, marking the film’s Asian debut and its selection as the festival’s first-ever centerpiece.
Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, and Fred Hechinger discussed the film’s ambitious scale, working with master filmmaker Ridley Scott, and their experiences in the Japanese capital during a talk event at Toho Cinemas Hibiya.
Mescal, who stars as the gladiator Lucius, described the evolution of his character. “What struck me about the script initially is that Lucius doesn’t strike me fully as a traditional hero. He strikes me as somebody who maybe might associate as an antihero, somebody whose predominant motivating factor is one of revenge,” he said. “I think he becomes more traditionally heroic towards the end when he starts to step into his own legacy and his own bloodline. But it’s a fun thing to get to play both for sure.”
Washington, who had worked with Scott on the 2007 film “American Gangster,” said the legacy of the historical epic “Gladiator” drew him to the project. “The first one was a multi-award-winning film, and it’s Ridley directing again, with a great script,” he said, adding that the director’s expertise allowed the actors to fully trust the process.
Nielsen, reprising her role as Lucilla, the former lover of Russell Crowe’s Maximus in the original and the mother of Lucius, noted the sequel’s depiction of a darker, more corrupt Rome. “Twenty years have passed, and Lucilla has watched as every norm of power has been subverted into utter narcissism and self-serving behavior by a very small group of elites,” she said. “Ridley used a subtle but unmistakable way of showing a change that happened to Rome and to the empire and to all of us who have become prisoners of this new and inevitable decline.”
Hechinger highlighted the scale of the production, describing it as a “unique experience.” He noted that Scott built the Colosseum in the same location where it was constructed 24 years ago for the first film, creating an atmosphere where “you feel that the world is real and all around you.”
Outside the film, the cast shared some of their Tokyo adventures. Mescal and Hechinger explored Shinjuku’s Golden Gai and went to a karaoke bar, while Nielsen visited Meiji Shrine, where she observed a traditional children’s kimono ceremony. As for Washington, whose last visit to Japan was 11 years ago, he said it was nice to be back but that he hasn’t gone out yet.
L-R: Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal, Ai Hashimoto, Connie Nielsen, and Fred Hechinger attend a talk event at Toho Cinemas Hibiya on Nov. 4.
They were welcomed by Japanese actress and TIFF jury member Ai Hashimoto, who presented them with bouquets. “It’s a dream to be standing here with actors I respect so much,” she said, receiving a warm hug from Washington.
“Gladiator II” is set to be released in Japan on Nov. 15, promising audiences a return to the themes of legacy and power that defined the original film. - Florenda Corpuz
