Last month, rising star Paul Mescal beat out the likes of Austin Butler, Miles Teller, and Richard Madden for the coveted starring role 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 next project once he wraps work on Apple‘s “Napoleon.”
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Mescal is fresh off the first Oscar nomination of his career, 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 film, in a story 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 production and his first meaty action role. Expect him to beef up significantly for the part.
But Mescal has a lot of other upcoming roles before “Gladiator 2” starts filming. He’s already shot “Foe,” a sci-fi thriller, and Andrew Haugh‘s “Strangers,” both in post-production now. And Mescal also has Richard Linklater‘s “Merrily We Roll Along” on the way too, which is currently in production. Also in the cards: “A Spy By Nature,” an espionage thriller based on Charles Cumming‘s “Alec Milius” book series, with “The Last King Of Scotland” director Kevin Macdonald helming the project.
What else is out there about “Gladiator 2”? Only that Scott produces with Michael Pruss, Doug Wick, and Lucy Fisher. Also, “Napoleon” writer David Scarpa pens the screenplay, making it two films in a row he and Scott work together.
Expect more casting news for “Gladiator 2” once Scott wraps “Napoleon.”