The first pictures from Gladiator 2 have been released, revealing Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and other actors in key roles. Director Ridley Scott is returning to the gladiatorial arena with a forthcoming sequel that stars Mescal as an adult Lucius, following the success of his debut picture in 2000. The ensemble of Gladiator 2 is a formidable group of performers, which includes newcomers Pascal, Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn, and the returning Connie Nielsen.

The images tease a bloody fight between Mescal and Pascal’s General Acacius, the latter of whom is revealed to have trained under Russell Crowe’s Maximus. Washington, meanwhile, will be playing an arms dealer named Macrinus, while Quinn plays Emperor Geta. Fred Hechinger is also featured in the images as Emperor Caracalla.