In a follow-up to Ridley Scott’s Best Picture-winning action-epic Gladiator, Scott is returning with a sequel 23 years later that willfeature Oscar nominee Paul Mescal in the leading role. It was recently announced that starring opposite Mescal is Denzel Washington, who is re-teaming with Scott 16 years after their hit crime drama American Gangster. 

Ridley Scott is set to direct and produce alongside Michael Pruss, Doug Wick, and Lucy Fisher with David Scarpawriting and Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald executive producing. As the most recent addition to the Gladiator sequel cast and a 2-time Oscar nominee, Washington is known for being selective in his roles at this point in his career, but was convinced by the script and the part that was written for his role that is currently being kept under wraps. 

The original Gladiator was nominated for 12 Academy Awards, winning five and launching Russell Crowe into Hollywood stardom. Although Mescal will not be taking over the role of Crowe’s Maximus, he will be playing Lucius, the son of Lucilla and nephew of Commodus years after the first film ended.

The film will likely be a major box office hit for Universal Studios with possible awards contention after it is set to be released in November this year.

Source: Deadline