How’s this for leisure? Deadline experiences that Ridley Scott‘s long-awaited “Gladiator” sequel is in motion, with up-and-comer Paul Mescal in negotiations to star. After a breakout year with acclaimed performances in “Aftersun” and “God’s Creatures,” it felt inevitable Mescal would bag a big-budget function. But that is on one other degree fully and cements the actor as one in all cinema’s greatest rising stars.
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Scott returns to direct the sequel to his Oscar-winning 2000 movie. He additionally produces by his banner Scott Free with the manufacturing firm’s president Michael Pruss. Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher additionally co-produce through Red Wagon Entertainment. David Scarpa, who pens Scott’s upcoming historic epic “Napoleon,” writes the sequel’s script. A handful of crew members from the unique movie additionally return for the sequel, together with costume designer Janty Yates and manufacturing designer Arthur Max.
“Gladiator” stays one in all Scott’s greatest profession movies. The film earned $460 million on the international field workplace and nabbed 12 Oscar nominations, successful 5, together with Best Picture. Scott expressed curiosity in returning to the world of Russell Crowe‘s Maximus even when “Gladiator” was still in theaters. However, development on the sequel didn’t begin till Paramount joined the challenge in 2018. During the manufacturing of “Napoleon,” Scott indicated his want to maneuver ahead with “Gladiator 2,” and Paramount execs reportedly moved mountains to make sure the sequel moved ahead.
But who will Mescal play within the new movie? No, he received’t take over Crowe’s function as Maximus. Instead, he performs Lucius, son of Connie Nielson‘s Camilla, and nephew of Joaquin Phoenix‘s Emperor Commodus. Of course, “Gladiator” fans remember Maximus dies at the end of the 2000 film after skewering Commodus in the arena’s combating pit. One imagines Maximus’ pyrrhic victory makes fairly an impression on the youthful Lucius, and informs a lot of Mescal’s character.
And Mescal reportedly beat a few of Hollywood’s prime expertise to land the coveted function. So who else was within the working for the lead function of “Gladiator 2”? Just the likes of Miles Teller, Austin Butler, Richard Madden, and Timothée Chalamet. According to Deadline, insiders say Mescal met Scott early within the audition course of and was clearly the director’s best choice. Mescal definitely has the suitable mixture of performing vary and bodily means to hold the sequel, one thing not fairly there with the actors listed above.
Mescal’s breakout function got here within the Hulu restricted sequence “Normal People,” which earned him an Emmy nomination. Other roles embrace “The Lost Daughter” and the musical drama “Carmen,” nonetheless awaiting a US theatrical launch after its world premieres at TIFF final September. Up forward, Mescal has the sci-fi thriller “Foe,” Andrew Waugh‘s subsequent movie “Strangers,” and the thriller “A Spy By Nature,” primarily based on Charles Cummings‘ “Alec Milius” ebook sequence.
Paul Mescal in “Gladiator 2” marks the primary colossal casting information of 2023. But who will be a part of the actor in Scott’s upcoming movie? Expect extra information on this sequel after Scott’s “Napoleon” hits theaters.