Killer Pairing: First “Gladiator II” Trailer to Debut in Theaters Ahead of “Deadpool & Wolverine”

Talk about a killer pairing. Collider learned that the first trailer for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II will unsheathe its sword in theaters ahead of Shawn Levy’s Deadpool & Wolverine, the only Marvel Studios film releasing in 2024. These are easily two of the most hotly anticipated films of the year, and pairing them together is one heck of a mid-summer treat.

Scott’s Gladiator II is the long-awaited follow-up to his 2001 Best Picture Oscar winner, which followed the brutal journey of former general Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe), who went from a life of honor and sacrifice to ruin and rage after his might on the battlefield was viewed as a threat by the fragile, self-appointed emperor of Rome, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix.) Commodus went to despicable lengths to neutralize Maximus, brutally killing his wife and children and selling him into slavery—a mistake, it would turn out. Maximus ends up being forced into the ring as a gladiator, and the man’s a natural. Gladiator tracked his bloody path of vengeance toward Commodus, in which the former general turned beloved “Spainard” of the Colosseum gets ever closer to exacting his revenge against the petulant, sociopathic emperor.

The first footage was released at CinemaCon and wowed the crowd in Vegas. It included a clip in which Gladiator II star Paul Mescal, playing a young man named Lucius, says, “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.”

Gladiator II boasts an incredible cast, including Connie Nielsen, reprising her role as Lucilla from the original, and newcomers Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Rory McCann, and Fred Hechinger.

Deadpool & Wolverine will also deliver something fans have been clamoring for forever—the pairing of Ryan Reynolds’ Merc with the Mouth and Hugh Jackman‘s Wolverine. Jackman will be playing a different version of the character than he did in James Mangold’s 2017 epic Logan, which saw the grizzled, beloved Canadian berserker sacrifice himself for a young mutant under his protection.

Deadpool & Wolverine slashes its way into theaters on July 26.

For more on Deadpool & Wolverine, check out these stories:

“Deadpool & Wolverine” Reveal Popcorn Bucket Set to Rival Infamous “Dune: Part Two” Offering

“Deadpool & Wolverine” Doesn’t Require Prior Marvel Cinematic Universe Knowledge

For more on Gladiator 2, check these out:

First Footage of Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator 2” Conquers CinemaCo

Ridley Scott Reveals Creation of Massive “Gladiator 2” Battle Scene in Behind-the-Scenes Video

Featured image: Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/Logan in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.