Actor Joseph Quinn has been cast in the Gladiator successor. In this new film directed by Ridley Scott, best known for playing Will Byers in Stranger Things, he will play the Roman emperor Caracalla. After the Oscar-winning original in 2001, this much-anticipated sequel has been eagerly awaited by fans.
New faces and returning characters
Lucius will be played by Paul Mescal. Lucilla was played by Connie Nielsen in the original film, while Commodus was played by Joaquin Phoenix. Emperor Gaeta will be played by Barry Keoghan, while Denzel Washington’s involvement has also been confirmed.
According to sources, Washington was initially unsure about the project as he has always been very particular about his roles. However, when he read the script and saw Scott’s vision for his character, he became very excited to play the character in the film.
About Russell Crowe’s absence
Regarding this sequel, Russell Crowe, who originally played Maximus Decimus Meridius, will not be returning. Crowe had spoken to Scott and realized it was not a direct sequel to Gladiator.
The story is about one of his biological descendants; therefore, there is no new retelling of that iconic act. Instead, it follows an adult, Lucius, who has become emperor. He notes that these events do not take place immediately after the previous event. Instead, they take place many years later, creating new stories while maintaining connections to previous events.
Building Excitement
The Gladiator sequel has a release date set for 2024. With an all-star cast and Ridley Scott directing, expectations are high. Original fans are eagerly waiting to see how the new characters and storylines carry forward the legacy that ended before.
Also read: “I grew up in caves”: When Brad Pitt spoke about his hometown and growing up around corn fields
