After two decades of anticipation, the legacy of the Colosseum lives on. Paramount Pictures has officially released the first trailer for Gladiator 3 (2026), the epic continuation of Ridley Scott’s iconic saga—this time starring Paul Mescal as the warrior heir to Maximus’s legend.

Titled Gladiator 3: Empire’s End, the film picks up years after the fall of Commodus, with Rome caught in political chaos and rebellion. Mescal plays Lucius Verus, the grown-up nephew of Lucilla and secret protégé of Maximus, now a reluctant soldier forced into the brutal world of gladiators to defend the ideals of a fading empire.

The trailer wastes no time delivering high-stakes action: massive set pieces, sand-soaked duels, and thunderous chants from roaring crowds. In one breathtaking shot, Lucius stands defiant in the Colosseum, sword drawn, as a lion snarls behind him and flaming arrows light the sky.

Directed once again by Ridley Scott, the film reunites key creative talent and introduces new faces, including:

• Denzel Washington as a powerful ex-gladiator turned political strategist

• Barry Keoghan as a ruthless Praetorian prefect

• Connie Nielsen returning as Lucilla

• Joseph Quinn in a mysterious role tied to Rome’s darkest secrets

Paul Mescal’s performance has already been called “ferocious” and “Oscar-ready” based on teaser glimpses alone. The trailer closes with his gravelly voice: “They call it glory. But all I see is blood.”

Fans have erupted online, calling it the most anticipated historical epic of the decade. Hashtags like #Gladiator3, #LuciusRises, and #MaximusLegacy are trending globally.

Gladiator 3: Empire’s End will hit theaters worldwide on March 13, 2026, promising a return to honor, vengeance, and destiny—under the shadow of Rome.

He was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 a prince. He fights as a slave. He may rise as a legend.