The new 'Gladiator II' trailer is filled with sand, sweat, & swords

Swords, sandals, and sweat are abundant in the new Gladiator II trailer!

In a voiceover, Denzel Washington's character explains that "it is an art, choosing gladiators" as we meet Paul Mescal's new gladiator, Lucius, who was a child in the first movie.

In the trailer, Washington's character Macrinus has bought Lucius as a slave, and is making him a gladiator so that he can unleash his rage. Lucius faces off against a shaved baboon, says he'll never become someone else's instrument, learns about his father, and seeks revenge, all while fighting in and out of the colosseum.

This new Gladiator looks even more epic than the original, with bigger battles, an assault on the Roman empire, a ship battle in the Colosseum, and not one, but two corrupt emperors.

Between Mescal's search for revenge, the emperors' gleeful addiction to excitement, and Denzel Washington's steely scheming to take over the empire, Gladiator II looks like it will be one of the biggest movies in years.

According to the official synopsis, "Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people."

The film stars Washington, Mescal, Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius, Connie Nielsen as Lucilla, Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta, and Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla.

Gladiator II hits theaters on November 22. Scroll through to see more first-look images.