In just a few days, the moviegoing public will witness a battle of two non-superhero IP titans unseen since Barbieheimer: Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II squaring off against Jon M. Chu’s Wicked. Will Steven Schwartz beat Denzel? Will Paul Mescal fall to the Spongebob guy? Only time will tell, but we can tell you right now that the final trailer for Gladiator II gave the internet a jolt alongside its coffee on Monday morning, and it’s ready to kick ass, take names, and drink plenty of posca. Join us for a brief digression about the Roman beverage after you watch it.
Peep it:
Alright, quick posca digression: This is what Paul Mescal’s character would probably drink after a long bout in the coliseum (unless he went straight for the wine). Posca’s a vinegar-water-honey mixture that was absurdly popular in Ancient Rome, and unlike the spice (and potential natural birth control device) Siliphum, it’s something you can make today without worrying about the ingredients going extinct due to your overuse. Interestingly, it’s speculated that the infamous vinegar-soaked rag Christ was given on the cross was actually doused in posca, but that didn’t stop the drink from spreading to Great-Awakening America, where a similar drink was dubbed “switchel.”
Anyway, enough about beverages: here’s a synopsis:
From legendary director Ridley Scott, ‘Gladiator II’ continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.
Gladiator II hits theaters on November 22. Astonishingly, it’s somehow 10 minutes shorter than Wicked.