Paul Mescal To Star In Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator’ Sequel

In a few short years, Adam Driver has gone from underground TV curiosity to the most compelling leading man in movies. The young actor has already notched two consecutive Oscar nominations for his roles in 2018’s “BlacKkKlansman” and 2019’s “Marriage Story,” plus an extended excursion into the “Star Wars” universe.

Paul Mescal has been nominated for Best Actor for playing a Scots dad in the film Aftersun. The Irishman is up against the likes of Austin Butler and Colin Farrell.

After months of campaigning, the 95th Oscar nominations are here. And, in theory, with blockbusters such as “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (granted, a streaming blockbuster), and “Avatar: The Way of Water” in the mix for Best Picture nominations people should be excited.

EXCLUSIVE: Amir Arison (The Blacklist, lead on Broadway’s The Kite Runner) joins series lead Brian Tyree Henry in the cast of Apple’s crime drama series Sinking Spring from Top Gun: Maverick writer Peter Craig. The 8- episode series is directed and executive produced by Ridley Scott via his Scott Free Productions.

BFI Distribution has picked up the well-received Irish drama God’s Creatures for theatrical release in the UK. The deal also includes a partnership with independent Irish distributor Volta Pictures, who have acquired the film for Ireland.

Connecting over coffee. Angelina Jolie met with Paul Mescal at a cafe amid rumors that he and Phoebe Bridgers quietly split, but the rendezvous wasn’t as romantic as some fans may have expected.

Back in 2019, Richard Linklater announced what was probably going to be the most ambitious film project of his career, “Merrily We Roll Along.” Unfortunately, this is a film you won’t be able to see for another couple of decades, as Linklater is filming segments with the same group of actors over the course of 20 years to properly adapt Stephen Sondheim‘s acclaimed musical.

“Aftersun” star Paul Mescal is in talks to star in the “Gladiator” sequel from Paramount Pictures, according to an individual with knowledge of the project.The first “Gladiator” movie, which was released in 2000, garnered 11 Oscar nominations and five wins, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe. The film raked in $460 million at the global box office.The story for the sequel would focus on Lucius (Mescal), the son of Lucilla (who was played by Connie Nielsen in the 2000 film) who was saved by Maximus (Crowe) by the end of the first film.Ridley Scott is directing, as well as producing with Michael Pruss via Scott Free and Doug Wick & Lucy Fisher via Red Wagon Entertainment.David Scarpa is writing the script. Also returning from the original film are costume designer Janty Yates and production designer Arthur Max.DreamWorks was the studio behind the original 2000 film and Paramount is currently in negotiations to land the project. Universal, which co-produced the 2000 film, has the option to come on board as co-financier.Scott will first direct “Napoleon” which Joaquin Phoenix attached to star.Mescal first broke out on Hulu’s “Normal People,” for which he garnered a BAFTA award and an Emmy nomination for his role.

How’s this for entertainment? Deadline reports that Ridley Scott‘s long-awaited “Gladiator” sequel is in motion, with up-and-comer Paul Mescal in negotiations to star. After a breakout year with acclaimed performances in “Aftersun” and “God’s Creatures,” it felt inevitable Mescal would bag a big-budget role.

The Serpent and The Mauritanian star Tahar Rahim will preside over the 48th edition of France’s Cesar Awards, taking place at Paris’s historic l’Olympia concert venue on February 24.