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Over 15 years after previously working together, Denzel Washington and Ridley Scott are reportedly eyeing a reunion in Gladiator 2. Scott is finally getting back at the helm for the follow-up to his Best Picture-winning historical epic, something he has been developing for the better part of 20 years, largely struggling to find a story to bring back Russell Crowe’s Maximus to life following his death in the original. Crowe will not be returning for Gladiator 2, with Normal People‘s Paul Mescal leading the cast.
Deadline has brought word that Washington is reportedly in final negotiations to reunite with Scott for Gladiator 2. The Oscar winner’s role is being kept under wraps, though it would mark the first pairing of the director and star since 2007’s American Gangster, which also starred original Gladiator actor Russell Crowe. However, it’s currently expected that Crowe won’t be returning for the historical epic sequel.
Washington & Scott’s History Makes A Gladiator 2 Reunion Exciting
While his role may be kept under wraps, Washington and Scott’s prior history makes their reunion on Gladiator 2 all the more an exciting one. Their work on the 2007 biographical crime drama American Gangster netted Washington one of his 10 Golden Globe nominations, as well as one of Scott’s five Globe nods, albeit the two would lose to Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood and Julian Schnabel for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.
Even outside of their own collaborations, Washington enjoyed a string of hits with Tony Scott, Ridley’s late brother, beginning with 1995’s Crimson Tide. The duo would continue primarily with action-thrillers, including Man on Fire, Déjà Vu, The Taking of Pelham 123 and Unstoppable, all of which were box office hits, even in spite of their mixed reviews. Sources report that, thanks to this prior relationship and the success of American Gangster, Ridley and Washington have been looking for a new project to reunite on.
With Washington’s recent foray into historical productions with Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of Macbeth earning both an Oscar and Golden Globe nod, his reported reunion with Scott for Gladiator 2 has all the makings of a major hit. However, with Washington still only in final negotations, along with The Batman‘s Barry Keoghan, one can hope their deals come to fruition.
Source: Deadline
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