Denzel Washington reportedly joining cast of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator sequel

The sequel follows Maximums' son, Lucius, played by Paul Mescal

According to Deadline, the actor looks set to join Ridley Scott's highly-anticipated flick, reuniting with the movie-maker 16 years after their 2007's hit, American Gangster.

Sources tell the publication that Washington is in final negotiations to co-star in Scott’s sequel to his Oscar Best Picture winner Gladiator for Paramount. If the deal closes, the two-time Academy Award winner would join Oscar nominees Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan, whose participation in the Paramount Pictures film was confirmed earlier this week after much speculation. Russell Crowe is not returning.

The movie is set to be released in November next year.

The sequel follows the 2000’s blockbuster which was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won five, including best picture, and pulled in $460m at the box office (on a budget of $100m).

It featured Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman soldier forced into slavery who vows revenge against Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Since Maximus dies at the end of “Gladiator,” Mescal will play Lucius, the son of Maximus’ lover Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), in the sequel.

Keoghan is in negotiations to play Emperor Geta, according to reports.

It is not yet known what part Washington will play.

His most recent movie was, The Tragedy of Macbeth, for which he earned his ninth Oscar nomination, and he will next be seen in Equalizer 3.

Mescal was picked out for the lead role ahead of these actors: Timothée Chalamet (star of Dune and Little Women) Austin Butler (star of Elvis) Richard Madden (played Robb in Game of Thrones) Miles Teller (star of Top Gun:Maverick).

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