As reported by industry sources to Deadline, Paul Mescal, known for the popular series Normal People, will star in the upcoming sequel Gladiator, Ridley Scott’s hit 2000 film.
Gladiator It was a huge box office success with revenues of over $460 million and five Oscars, including Best Picture. The historical epic about ancient Rome is currently ranked 37th on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) list of the best movies of all time.
For many years, it seemed that the sequel to the 2000 hit that catapulted Russell Crowe into the role of Máximo Décimo Meridio and in which Ridley Scott has long shown an interest was just wishful thinking. However, in 2018 it became known that a sequel was in the works.
After almost five years of speculation about the possible protagonists of gladiator 2according to DeadlinePaul Mescal is in the final stages of negotiations with Paramount for the lead role in the film.
The 26-year-old Irish actor is relatively new to the industry, but he’s already made quite an impression with an Emmy nomination for his performance in normal people. Also, she appeared in the drama the dark daughter and soon we will be able to see him on the big screen starring in the acclaimed aftersun.
As if that were not enough, in the last hours, it was announced that Paul Mescal was signed to film for 20 years Merrily We Roll Along, the new musical comedy by Richard Linklater, which will show each stage of the protagonist’s life, that is, Mescal will start recording at the age of 26 and will premiere it when he is 46.
gladiator 2a film centered on Lucio Vero
If all goes as planned, Paul Mescal will play Lucio Vero, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), grandson of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and nephew of the ruthless Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) against whom Maximus rebelled.
Therefore, gladiator 2 It would take place several years after the original and will follow the adult Lucio, who, along with his mother, was rescued by Maximus, the gladiator who made a big impression on the little heir to the empire.
When can we expect to see gladiator 2?
We don’t know for sure, but filming is expected to start sometime in 2023, as gladiator 2 will be Ridley Scott’s next project after Napoleon for AppleTV+, which is currently in production with Joaquin Phoenix in the title role, marking the filmmaker’s reunion with the Oscar winner for joker.