Last month, rising star Paul Mescal beat out the likes of Austin Butler, Miles Teller, and Richard Madden for the coveted starring position in Ridley Scott‘s “Gladiator‘ sequel. Now it looks like Paramount wants to move ahead on the project fast. Deadline reports that the studio has “Gladiator 2” penciled in for a November 22, 2024, release date. That makes the film Scott’s subsequent venture as soon as he wraps work on Apple‘s “Napoleon.”
READ MORE: Paul Mescal In Talks To Star In Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator’ Sequel
Mescal is recent off the primary Oscar nomination of his profession, for Best Actor in Charlotte Wells‘ debut “Aftersun.” However, no one knows much about “Gladiator 2” outside of Mescal’s casting. The actor will play Lucius, son of Connie Nielson‘s Lucilla from Scott’s 2000 movie, in a narrative that takes place years after Russell Crowe‘s Maximus skewered Joaquin Phoenix‘s Commodus in the gladiator ring. What will that story entail? Who knows, but it’s Mescal’s first big-budget manufacturing and his first meaty motion position. Expect him to beef up considerably for the half.
But Mescal has a whole lot of different upcoming roles earlier than “Gladiator 2” begins filming. He’s already shot “Foe,” a sci-fi thriller, and Andrew Haugh‘s “Strangers,” each in post-production now. And Mescal additionally has Richard Linklater‘s “Merrily We Roll Along” on the way in which too, which is presently in manufacturing. Also within the playing cards: “A Spy By Nature,” an espionage thriller primarily based on Charles Cumming‘s “Alec Milius” e-book sequence, with “The Last King Of Scotland” director Kevin Macdonald helming the venture.
What else is on the market about “Gladiator 2”? Only that Scott produces with Michael Pruss, Doug Wick, and Lucy Fisher. Also, “Napoleon” author David Scarpa pens the screenplay, making it two movies in a row he and Scott work collectively.
Expect extra casting information for “Gladiator 2” as soon as Scott wraps “Napoleon.”