The sequel to the cult film, which Ridley Scott is due to shoot later this year, reveals its cast, with the return of two original actors.
The cast of the sequel Gladiator, whose filming should take place in the coming months, becomes clearer. While Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan and Denzel Washington have already been confirmed, two stars from the original film are in talks to join them according to the Hollywood Reporter: Connie Nielsen (Lucilla) and Djimon Hounsou (Juba).
Joseph Quinn, known for his role as Eddie Munson in Stranger Thingswas also chosen to play the Emperor Caracalla, who reigned between 211 and 217. Barry Keoghan, seen in The Banshees of Inisherin et The Eternalswill play the Emperor Geta, brother of Caracalla, who was assassinated by the latter in 211.
We still do not know the role played by Denzel Washington. 16 years after the success ofAmerican Gangster, he reconnects with Ridley Scott. Scheduled for November 2024, Gladiator 2 will not follow the adventures of Maximus (Russell Crowe), but of Lucius, the son of Lucilla and nephew of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix).
Lucius will be played by rising Hollywood star Paul Mescal, known for his role in the miniseries Normal People and nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor for After sun. David Scarpa, already screenwriter of All the money in the world et from the future Napoleon by Ridley Scott, was chosen to write Gladiator 2.
Sans Russell Crowe
Ridley Scott has long wanted to shoot this sequel with Russell Crowe (despite the death of his character in the first film). “I know how to bring him back,” he assured Entertainment Weekly in 2017. “Will that happen? I don’t know. Gladiator came out in 2000. Russell changed a bit.”
Russell Crowe, who received the Best Actor Oscar for the first Gladiatoris not to make an appearance in the new film, he recently confirmed in an interview with Collider: “The only thing I have to say about the film is that I’m a little jealous.”
Released in 2000, Gladiator was a huge success, grossing $460 million at the worldwide box office. The blockbuster had been nominated twelve times for the Oscars and had won 5 including the statuettes for best film and best actor for Russell Crowe.
