May Calamawy , star of the Disney+ series Moon Knight , has joined the cast of Gladiator 2 , alongside Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Peter Mensah and Matt Lucas .
Also, Fred Hechinger ( The White Lotus ) is in talks to play Emperor Geta, the role for which Barry Keoghan was in talks who, apparently, will not be able to take part in the film due to previous commitments.
The newcomers join a cast that already includes Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn and Connie Nielsen , who will reprise her role as Lucilla from the first film. Derek Jacobi was also in the original film, and will reprise his role as Gracchus.
Mescal will play Lucius, son of Lucilla (and possibly Maximus’ secret son), while Joseph Quinn will play Caracalla, co-emperor with Geta.
Ridley Scott will return to direct and produce with Michael Pruss, Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher . David Scarpa ( The Man in the High Castle, All the Money in the World ) wrote the final draft of the screenplay. Also returning from the original film are Oscar-winning costume designer Janty Yates and Oscar-nominated production designer Arthur Max . However, Russell Crowe will not return .
Gladiator
Directed by Ridley Scott and released in 2000. Gladiator , set in ancient Rome, follows the story of Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman army general who becomes a gladiator and seeks revenge against the corrupt emperor who killed his family.
Russell Crowe plays the lead, also starring Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen and Oliver Reed . The film won numerous awards, including five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director.