Will Barry Keoghan join the cast of ‘Gladiator 2’ alongside Paul Mescal?

Oscar nominees Barry Keoghan and Paul Mescal could join forces in the sequel to Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator’.

As reported The Hollywood Reporter, Keoghan (‘Inisherin’s Banshees’)’ is in talks to play Emperor Geta in the historical epicwhile Mescal (‘Aftersun’) is already on board as the adult version of Lucius Verus (replacing Spencer Treat Clark, from the original).

Filming is scheduled to start this summer, so the Irishman could confirm very soon.

For her part, ‘Gladiator’ actress Connie Nielsen has already praised Scott for fighting for her character, Lucilla (the mother of Mescal’s character Lucius), to be progressive in the year 2000.

“It was one of the things that made me feel grateful to be part of the film,“The actress began by saying. “Ridley really intended to make this character equal to those men, or even something more..”

“C.I think you heard me when I complained, in our first meeting, about the way Hollywood treats women. He was determined to make her the smartest person on the scene. That also made me proud to play that character.”

Nielsen also spoke in the past of the expected sequel: “It would obviously be awesome, and I know a lot of people want to see more.“.

“We will have to see it as a different film, but with some of the emotions and values ​​that made ‘Gladiator’ so important to so many people.“.

‘Gladiator 2’ has its theatrical release date scheduled for November 22, 2024.