Blood, animals and combat – Gladiator II is causing a sensation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas

Paramount has released the first bloody pictures Gladiator II during the CinemaCon show in Las Vegas. The trailer shows Paul Mescal, the star of the new epic, fighting in a coliseum full of rhinos, bloodthirsty baboons and even Roman warships, while a shadowy advisor, played by Denzel, watches Washington.

The film “is possibly even more extraordinary than the first”, assured director Ridley Scott in a video broadcast at the Caesars Palace Casino, a place of circumstance whose settings are reminiscent of ancient Rome. The first one appeared in 2000 gladiator had won the Oscar for Best Picture, already with Ridley Scott at the helm. After Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, whose characters failed in the original feature, a new generation of actors takes over in this second installment, due in American theaters in November.

Paul Mescal plays the gladiator Lucius. This nephew of the evil emperor appeared briefly as a child in the first film. Pedro Pascal plays an army general. And the mysterious figure, played by Denzel Washington, appears to be plotting to overthrow the Roman Empire. “Rome must fall. I just have to help him.”he says in the trailer.

Despite the recent strike in Hollywood, there are no signs of concern from Paramount

The images were received with enthusiasm by the audience. Enough to provide some comfort to Paramount Pictures, one of Hollywood’s oldest studios, which is currently facing an uncertain future. The parent company has just started negotiations for a merger with the studio Skydance. And that while the year 2024 promises to be a dry spell for all studios.

The actors and writers’ strike that paralyzed Hollywood for six months last year delayed production of many films, which will lead to a decline in the studio’s revenue at the global box office. Still, Paramount executives gave an upbeat presentation Thursday at the CinemaCon trade show, where studios pitch their future releases to American theater operators.

In particular, they announced several new films such as: Without sound: Day 1, Smile 2 et Blue & Companya comedy in which actor Ryan Reynolds follows a child tasked with saving a variety of imaginary creatures.