Oscar nominee Barry Keoghan has reportedly been cast to star alongside Paul Mescal in Gladiator 2.
The Banshees of Inisherin actor is tipped to play the main villain in the swords and sandals sequel after Mescal, 27, confirmed he would star in the film.
He is in talks with Paramount to take one of the lead roles in the movie blockbuster, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
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Ridley Scott is rumoured to be keen on Marvel star Keoghan, 30, to play a fictional version of real-life Roman Emperor Geta in the long-awaited sequel.
Geta ruled Rome from 209AD to 211AD and was known for his raging temper – and will take on Mescal’s character Lucius according to an industry insider.
If Keoghan signs on the dotted line he will join a stellar cast rumoured to also include Denzel Washington, 68.
The original Gladiator movie won five Academy Awards and was nominated for 12 Oscars when it was released in 2000.
It earned more than €429million at the box office and won Best Actor and Best Picture.
Filming on the long-awaited follow-up is expected to start in Europe in June of this year and it’s set for release in November 2024.
The sequel will be set years after Maximus Decimus Meridius, played by Russell Crowe, 58, met his end following a battle in the Colosseum.
Scott, 85, confirmed last year that a script had already been written, adding it was “a good, logical place to go”.
He said at the time: “There are enough components from the first one to pick up the ball and continue it.”
The director is bringing back key crew members from the original including director of photography John Mathieson and costume designer Janty Yates.
Mescal, who was nominated for an Oscar this year for his performance in indie flick Aftersun, said he’s already in training for his Gladiator role.
The Maynooth native told Variety: “Every time someone asks me if I’ve started working out, I’m like, ‘What do you mean? You can’t tell?’
“I’m working hard. I like exercise. It’s not something I dread... I don’t like doing shoulders so much.”
Bafta winner Keoghan has also starred in Love/Hate, Chernobyl, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Eternals and The Batman.
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