Pedro Pascal has expressed his excitement about working with legendary director Ridley Scott on the upcoming Gladiator II, describing it as a dream come true. In a statement shared with the press, Pascal revealed that for most of his life, he admired Scott's work from a spectator’s perspective, "completely dazzled" by it. He never imagined he would have the opportunity to work on one of Scott's films.
Pascal plays the character Acacius in Gladiator II, and he discussed the complexity of his role. Acacius, who leads the Roman army, is portrayed ambiguously, making it difficult to classify him as either a hero or a villain. Pascal highlighted the dynamic relationship his character shares with Lucilla, the beloved character from the first film, whom Acacius protects. According to Pascal, Acacius is a soldier who serves Lucilla first, Rome second, and himself third.
Pascal also shared that Lucilla, played by Connie Nielsen, is his favorite character in the film. He described her as "the smartest person in the room" and praised her resilience and ability to navigate a world dominated by men. He further explained that Acacius' ultimate act of wisdom is his decision to protect Lucilla, emphasizing her central role in the story.
Gladiator II, directed and co-produced by Ridley Scott, is a sequel to the 2000 epic Gladiator. Written by David Scarpa, the film features a star-studded cast, including Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington. Nielsen and Derek Jacobi reprise their roles from the original film.
The film is set for release in India on November 15 in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
