Paramount Pictures has announced the official trailer for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, which features Paul Mescal as a grown-up Lucius. The long-anticipated sequel is set for release on November 22nd.

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.

Lucius is the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and the nephew of Commodus, the original film’s antagonist played by Joaquin Phoenix. He was portrayed as a child by Spencer Treat Clark in the original Gladiator film.

The supporting cast features Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius, a Roman general who trained under the command of Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe from “Gladiator”), Denzel Washington as Macrinus, a wealthy powerbroker in Rome who keeps a stable of gladiators for sport, and Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger as the twin emperors of Rome.

Ridley Scott recently told Vanity Fair that he became a fan of Mescal’s after watching the his film,  “Normal People.” Then after they spoke about half an hour, Scott decided that Mescal was his “Gladiator 2” lead. Mescal bulked up so much for the film that co-star Pascal told the publication it was quite challenging having to face off against him in the arena.

It’s going to be very interesting to see the movie duke it out for box-office with Wicked when Gladiator II hits theaters on November 22nd.