Just days after the announcement that Barry Keoghan was in talks to join Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator’ sequel news has come in that Denzel Washington has also entered negotiations to join the cast.
Paul Mescal will play Lucius, the son of Maximus’ lover Lucilla (played by Connie Nielsen), in the sequel. Keoghan is in negotiations to play Emperor Geta.
Scott is returning to direct and produce the feature. David Scarpa is penning the script for the sequel, which Michael Pruss via Scott Free, as well as Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher via Red Wagon Entertainment will produce alongside Scott. Executive producers are Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald. Also returning from the original film are cinematographer John Mathieson, production designer Arthur Max and costume designer Janty Yates.
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The original movie starred Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman soldier forced into slavery who vows revenge against Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix.
Scott and Washington previously worked together on 2007’s ‘American Gangster’ which earned more than $265 million at the box office, netted nominations at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards, and also starred Crowe.
