Gladiator 2 Star Details Epic Coliseum Battle

Gladiator II is full of incredible fight scenes. Now, thanks to one of its actors, we know a bit more about one in particular.

That’s an epic battle set in a coliseum, which was filmed on-location in Malta.

"It's bonkers, it's nuts," Joseph Quinn tells Entertainment Weekly. "That's the thing with working on a film like that, it changes your perspective on things. The fact that on a film of that scale, they built ancient Rome in Malta and to bear witness to that is truly awesome."

The actor, who plays the new emperor in the footsteps of Gladiator’s Joaquin Phoenix, admitted his trepidation about the coliseum fight, but praised one actor in particular for helping him get through it.

That was Connie Nielsen, who played Maximus’ wife in the original. She took it upon herself "to show us how to behave in the Colosseum," says Quinn. "I was very nervous about it, and she was a very calming presence. She's a wonderful woman."

Quinn rose to fame with his role in Stranger Things before being cast as the Human Torch in Fantastic Four, which is set to release 25 July, 2025.

Related: Gladiator 2 Features Epic Baboon Fight, Says Ridley Scott

His role in Gladiator II will be the biggest of his career so far, however, and by all accounts, it’s going to be epic.

Quinn will star in the sequel opposite protagonist Lucius (Paul Mescal), who’s the son of Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla. Ridley Scott directs.

"We all were very aware of the legacy of the first film," Quinn continues. "So many people get misty-eyed about it. So going anywhere near it again felt a little scary."

Gladiator II releases 22 November, 2024