“Gladiator II” Offers Swords, Sandals And, We Hope, Some Hot Gladiatorial Swordplay!
Mark your calendars for November 22. Two blockbusters, Gladiator II and Wicked, will hit theaters. Some call it the second coming of Barbenheimer, but we still need a catchy name.
You might think Wicked is for the LGBTQIA+ crowd, and Gladiator II, the swords-and-sandals epic, might have queer appeal, too.
The new trailer dropped on Bisexual Visibility Day. Coincidence? We think not.
The cast is a thirst trap
Director Ridley Scott assembled a cast to quench the internet’s thirst. Paul Mescal, the short-shorts king, plays Lucius, the son of slain hero Maximus.
Denzel Washington, sporting a hoop earring, plays Marcinus, who wants to take over the Roman Empire. Pedro Pascal, a total daddy, plays Marcus Acacius, the Roman general who took everything Lucius loves.
The film features out queer actors, too. Matt Lucas, the gay British comedy star, has a yet-to-be-revealed role. Sir Derek Jacobi, who came out in 2006, reprises his role as Roman Senator Gracchus.
Will Gladiator II feature queer characters?
Ancient epics are steeped in homoeroticism. Oiled up, scantily clad men grunting and thrusting in intimate showdowns. What’s not to love?
In the Roman Empire, same-sex “swordplay” wasn’t uncommon among the elite. Will Gladiator II address this reality?
The villainous emperors Caracalla and Geta, played by Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn, might provide a clue. They’re depicted in lavish clothing, wearing ghostly white makeup and eyeliner.
