As we know, Paul Mescal ( Aftersun ) will take over from Russell Crowe to lead the cast of Gladiator 2 ,
which will again be directed by Ridley Scott and will be released in US theaters on November 22, 2024 . The actor recently revealed to Deadline when we can expect filming to begin: “in the summer.” “I don’t know exactly what the departure date is,” Mescal added, “but soon.”
In Gladiator 2 , Mescal will play Lucio, the son of Lucilla ( Connie Nielsen ), and possibly the secret son of Massimo Decimo Meridio. Russell Crowe , hero of the first film , has confirmed that he will not return in the sequel. Scott will 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.
Crowe said he still spoke to Ridley Scott about the project:
We had dinner together and talked about it. So I know more or less what the story is going to be. But yeah, if you recall, there was a little boy who wanted to beat the Gladiator, which leads to my speech, “My name is…”. Now that little boy has grown up and become emperor. I don’t know what else happens at that point, but that’s the idea. So it’s not a remake and it’s not a direct sequel. It’s not set the day after, but thirty years later or something like that.
Historically, Lucius Aurelius Commodus Pompeianus, grandson of Commodus (played in the first film by Joaquin Phoenix ), did not become emperor. Russell Crowe may have been wrong, just plain, or the movie could be taking a different tack from the story.