Gladiator II (2024)

24 years after winning the Oscar for Best Picture, we finally get the long-teased sequel Gladiator II (2024)! The son of Marcus Aurelius' daughter Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) Lucius Verus Aurelius (Paul Mescal) is all grown up and living a life of quiet solitude when the Roman army, led by General Acacius (Pedro Pascal), seize his land and murder his wife. Before long, Lucius ends up as a gladiator in the service of Macrinus (Denzel Washington), looking to follow in the footsteps of his hero—and secret father—Maximus Decimus Meridius. While the film has all manner of backdoor dealings, it's nothing of the variety we care about here at Mr. Man. Paul Mescal is in peak physical condition, however, showing off his hard work at the gym in several shirtless scenes!