Pedro Pascal once again wields the sword for his role in Ridley Scott’s upcoming sequel, Gladiator II. Pascal plays the antagonist in the story, looking fierce as Roman General Marcus Acacius. Fans got to see the actors in the roles for the first time when the trailer of the film was released on Tuesday. However, fans were not happy with the actor for one reason.
Fans of Pedro Pascal were furious that the actor was repeating one mistake from his most prominent role in Game of Thrones. Pascal famously played the role of the Red Viper of Dorne, Prince Oberyn Martell, in the epic fantasy series.
Pedro Pascal’s Fans Are Not Happy With One Thing About His Gladiator II Role
After his successes in HBO’s The Last of Us and Disney’s The Mandalorian, Pedro Pascal is back with another mainstream project. Pascal is playing the villain in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator sequel. Pascal’s Marcus Acacius trained under Maximus and became a very good general. In the new film, the character represents everything Paul Mescal‘s Lucius hates.
After watching him in the recently dropped trailer, fans were not exactly thrilled with his role as they shared that it was Game of Thrones all over again for one reason. Fans on X kept asking only one question in the comments: why was Pascal not wearing a helmet in his face-off against Mescal’s Lucius?
Fans haven’t forgotten the tragic ending of Pascal’s Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones at the hands of the Mountain. He fights the massive villain after volunteering as Tyrion Lannister’s tribute. He had a personal vendetta against Gregor Clegane aka the Mountain, who was responsible for his sister’s murder.
He went into the arena with just his armor and a spear and gained the upper hand over the villain initially. However, he became a little too careless around the Mountain’s fallen body. The giant man pulled Martell by his leg and crushed his skull, putting his thumbs through his eyes.
Fans on X wanted to know why Pascal hadn’t learned a lesson after the gruesome fate in Game of Thrones. They shared that they didn’t have fond memories of the actor not wearing a helmet to the arena last time. Some of the fan reactions read:
Why is pedro not wearing a helmet?? didn't he learn from his GOT days😭
— 4KT WHO YOU HATE (@royal_bobby24) July 9, 2024
WEAR A FUCKING HELMET I’M SO TIRED OF LOSING YOU OLD MAN pic.twitter.com/yolF6zixKp
— Sima | Pedro Pascal’s no. 1 apologist (@pedrosapologist) July 9, 2024
Pedro still not wearing a helmet in an arena 🤦🏼♀️ https://t.co/au4ySgbf4U
— snark ‘n sass (@sass_snark) July 9, 2024
we do not have fond memories of pedro pascal not wearing a helmet in a fight.. https://t.co/DaRSGTlV7J
— gent. (@polloshkagent) July 9, 2024
pedro's character fighting without a helmet oh we've been here before haven't we
— evie 𓃵 misses crosshair (@crossmaera) July 9, 2024
Fans await to see whether Pascal can top Joaquin Phoenix’s performance as the villain in the first film. Pascal signed on to the film in 2023 at the peak of his career, which continues to prosper with films like The Fantastic Four coming up on the slate.
Pedro Pascal’s The Fantastic Four Co-Star Looks Unrecognizable In Gladiator II
Pedro Pascal was cast in Marvel’s The Fantastic Four as Reed Richards aka Mister Fantastic during this Valentine’s Day. The role of Johnny Storm aka Human Torch is brought to the screen by Stranger Things fame Joseph Quinn. Quinn also has a role in Pascal’s Gladiator II, playing the role of Emperor Geta.
When the first images of the film dropped, Quinn’s character was nothing like what fans had seen him in Netflix’s Stranger Things. As opposed to his long locks as Eddie Munson, Quinn donned a short blonde haircut in the film. He even bore a close resemblance to one Game of Thrones character, Cersei Lannister.
First look at Joseph Quinn and Denzel Washington in ‘GLADIATOR 2’
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) July 1, 2024
(Source: https://t.co/0rnS4zFGwH) pic.twitter.com/oPiZ2pjsr8
Quinn is also having a great time in cinemas, with his recent release A Quiet Place: Day One doing amazing business in theaters. Before working on the Marvel project, Quinn will collaborate with Civil War director Alex Garland on A24’s Warfare.
Gladiator II will be released in the U.S. theaters on November 22, 2024.
