As if the recent announcement that Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2 will finally begin rolling cameras in Morocco wasn’t thrilling enough, multiple reports have provided yet another promising sign of progress with the casting of Paul Mescal (Normal People, Aftersun) as the long-rumoured sequel’s lead.
Inside sources have revealed the Emmy-nominated Irish thespian is poised to enter the arena in a toga and sandals – although he probably won’t be the one swinging a sword. As per Deadline‘s Justin Kroll…
“Paul Mescal won’t be replacing Russell Crowe’s Maximus, whose character met his end in the original film, but instead he will be playing Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), who now is a grown man as the story takes place years after the first film ended.”
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“Lucius also was the nephew of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the son of Roman leader Marcus Aurelius, who murdered his father and seized the throne. Commodus wound up in the gladiator ring with Maximus — who, though mortally wounded, skewered the emperor before fading into the great beyond to reunite with his slain wife and son. Maximus saved the boy and his mother while avenging his own family, and left a strong impression on the young Lucius.”
In addition to Ridley Scott himself, Gladiator 2 hails the return of costume designer Janty Yates, production designer Arthur Max, as well as Djimon Hounsou, who originally portrayed the former slave and aging warrior Juba; seasoned Scott collaborator Dariusz Wolski will serve as director of photography.
According to World of Reel, principal photography on the forthcoming Paramount project kicks off in May 2023, around the time when Ridley Scott’s Napoleon Bonaparte biopic starring Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby is scheduled to premiere under the Apple TV+ banner.
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