Deadline dropped the bomb last week by revealing Denzel Washington is in “final negotiations” for Gladiator 2, thereby reuniting him with director Ridley Scott almost 16 years after the Hollywood heavyweights captivated our attention with American Gangster.
The two-time Academy Award winner is set to join 2023 nominees Paul Mescal (Aftersun, Normal People) and Barry Keoghan (The Banshees of Inisherin, Eternals, Dunkirk).
Mescal will portray Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and nephew of Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), who was inspired by the actions of Russell Crowe’s General Maximus Decimus Meridius at the conclusion of the original 2000 film.
Keoghan, on the other hand, will portray a fictitious version of Emperor Geta – otherwise known as Publius Septimius Geta – who is reportedly positioned as the main villain of the long-awaited sequel, opposite to Mescal’s adult Lucius.
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In addition to Ridley Scott himself, the forthcoming historical epic hails the return of costume designer Janty Yates, production designer Arthur Max, as well as Djimon Hounsou, who previously portrayed the former slave and aging warrior Juba. Scott will also produce with Michael Pruss via Scott Free alongside Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher via Red Wagon Entertainment.
Seasoned Scott collaborator Dariusz Wolski will serve as director of photography, while David Scarpa (All The Money In The World, Napoleon) has penned the screenplay for this one.
According to World of Reel, principal photography on the forthcoming Paramount project kicks off in Morocco around May 2023, aligning with when Ridley Scott’s forthcoming Napoleon Bonaparte biopic starring Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby is scheduled to premiere under the Apple TV+ banner. Gladiator 2 starring Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, and potentially Denzel Washington currently has a November 22nd, 2024 release date.
Gladiator (2000) was nominated for 12 Academy Awards, winning five including Best Picture and Best Actor (Russell Crowe), in addition to earning over $460 million at the box office against a $103 million production budget.
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