More than a month ago I wrote that Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator” sequel was in pre-production and ready to shoot in the summer. The trades finally got with the program this afternoon as Deadline finally reported that Scott‘s long-awaited sequel was in motion.
“Aftersun” actor Paul Mescal is set to star in the lead role. Supposedly, Mescal beat out Austin Butler, Timothée Chalamet, Richard Madden and Miles Teller, all of which were chasing the lead role in “Gladiator 2.”
The Gladiator sequel will be directed by Scott and shot via the lens of DP Dariusz Wolski. Late last year, I wrote that the 85-year-old Scott was in the Moroccan city of Ouarzazate, known as the “Moroccan Hollywood.” Production is being eyed for May, probably right after Scott premieres “Napoleon” at Cannes?
The sequel will follow Mescal’s Lucius (son of Lucilla and the nephew of Joaquin Phoenix's villainous Commodus). If you remember, Maximus saved Lucius from his uncle in the 2000 film. Connie Nielsen, who played Lucilla, is part of the sequel’s cast. So is Djimon Hounsou who is set to return as the once-enslaved Juba.
The film arrives unrated, set to screen in 2,000+ theaters this weekend, but is already plagued by disastrous early reviews, amounting to a 29% score on Rotten Tomatoes.