Gladiator II Gets R Rating for “Strong Bloody Violence”

We are a little under three months away from Gladiator II hitting theaters, where fans will get to return to the world built by Ridley Scott in his 2000 film Gladiator starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, and Connie Nielsen, but this time with a new cast, including Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Denzel Washington.

The Gladiator II trailer dropped last month and broke a Paramount record, scoring 177 million views in 48 hours to become the biggest trailer for the studio of all time.

Now, it has been revealed by the MPAA that the film will be rated R for "strong bloody violence", which will not surprise those who caught that record-breaking trailer where Mescal was seen coming face to face with dangerous trials.

Gladiator was also rated R in 2000 for "intense, graphic combat", meaning Gladiator II will likely match what we already know from Ridley Scott's cutthroat world.

Gladiator II builds on what Scott established in the first film and takes place years after the death of Maximus, where Mescal as Lucius must enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist.

It is there that 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.