Ridley Scott revealed in a recent New Yorker profile that he has been editing the 90 minutes of footage he was able to capture for “Gladiator 2” before the Hollywood strikes shut down production. Scott was shooting the long-awaited “Gladiator” sequel in Morocco when filming stopped indefinitely. He can’t resume production until the SAG-AFTRA strike is resolved.
As reported by The New Yorker: “With SAG-AFTRA and the studios back in negotiations, he was preparing to pick up ‘Gladiator 2,’ which stars Paul Mescal, the moment the strike was resolved. ‘I could shoot on Monday,’ he said. (The talks fell apart a week later.) In the meantime, he’d been polishing the 90 minutes he had, including a scene in which the hero fights a pack of baboons; he’d been haunted, he said, by a video of baboons attacking tourists in Johannesburg: ‘Baboons are carnivores. Can you hang from that roof for two hours by your left leg? No! A baboon can.’”
Russell Crowe faced off against Joaquin Phoenix in Scott’s original “Gladiator,” which grossed a whopping $503 million worldwide in 2000 and won the Oscar for best picture, but “Gladiator 2” star Paul Mescal will apparently be going head-to-head against a pack of baboons. How’s that for raising the stakes? Mescal is joined in the sequel by Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger and Pedro Pascal.
“Gladiator 2” is set years after the events of the original and follows an adult Lucius (Mescal), the nephew of Commodus (Phoenix). Given the time jump, original star Crowe is not involved in the sequel. Crowe earned the Academy Award for best actor thanks to “Gladiator.” He has repeatedly said that neither Scott nor anyone involved with “Gladiator 2” reached out to him since the sequel has nothing to do with the character he played in the original. At the Karlovy Film Festival in July, Crowe even urged the press to stop asking him about the “Gladiator” sequel.
“They should be fucking paying me for the amount of questions I am asked about a film I am not even in,” Crowe said. “It has nothing to do with me. In that world, I am dead. Six feet under. But I do admit to a certain tinge of jealousy, because it reminds me of when I was younger and what it meant for me, in my life.”
Mescal previously told Esquire UK that he wouldn’t “know what we would talk about” regarding discussions with Crowe. He added, “Like, I’d love to hear his stories from filming, but the character is, like, totally separate.”
Paramount Pictures is set to open “Gladiator 2” in theaters Nov. 22, 2024, although a delay could happen depending on the outcome of the SAG-AFTRA strike.
Ridley Scott’s epic historical drama on Napoleon Bonaparte recently received its second trailer as its release date quickly approaches. While Scott is most well-known for his sci-fi films, such as Alien, Blade Runner, and The Martian, his other specialty is historical and period dramas. Often, he blends the genres of historical drama and action, such as with Gladiator and The Duellists. Hence, his upcoming film, Napoleon, should encompass the elements of historical filmmaking that he is best at.
Additionally, the legacy of Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the most intriguing and complicated in French history. Bonaparte is considered one of the greatest military leaders of all time, having first risen through the ranks of the French army before eventually naming himself Emperor of France. Through his skilled military tactics, he succeeded in forming the First French Empire and attaining control of a good portion of Europe. He is remembered for having embraced the ideas of the French Revolution during his career and having advocated to uphold them during his reign. Ultimately, his empire fell after he led a disastrous invasion of Russia, leaving the former Emperor to live out his remaining days in exile.
Bonaparte’s legacy remains mixed. On the one hand, he is remembered for forming the First French Empire and attempting to solidify the rights the French Revolution fought for with his Napoleonic Code. On the other hand, he is also remembered for reinstating slavery in the French colonies and being so power-hungry that he cared little for the estimated millions of lives lost during the Napoleonic Wars. Capturing the scope of his military career, French rule, and the polarizing legacy he left behind is bound to be complicated but fascinating if Scott can pull it off.
Napoleon‘s second trailer delves into Bonaparte’s ego
Napoleon is set to release in theaters on November 22, and with just a month left before its premiere, Sony dropped the second official trailer. Sony is collaborating with Apple Original Films on Napoleon, and it will also be available to stream on Apple TV+ at an undisclosed later date.
The trailer, which fittingly plays to the backdrop of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs,” delves into the scope of Napoleon and Bonaparte’s infamous ego. It starts with Bonaparte (Joaquin Phoenix) looking on stoically during what appears to be the Battle of Austerlitz as he tricks the opposing army onto the ice while mercilessly firing canons upon them. Additionally, through most of the trailer, we hear Bonaparte describing himself as being built differently, comparing himself to Alexander the Great and Caesar, and declaring that he is “destined for greatness.” He comes across as a man truly obsessed with being great and how people perceive him. Besides delving into his personality, the second Napoleon trailer gives many clips of brutal, epic, and realistic battles.
The first trailer, released on July 10, also showed snippets of the Battle of Austerlitz, as well as a more noble side of Bonaparte, who expressed wanting to prevent France from falling or failing.
We also see the support he had when crowning himself Emperor. However, doubts and dissent are also shown over his egotism and relentless pursuit of power.
Joaquin Phoenix stars as Bonaparte in Napoleon
(Sony Pictures Releasing/Apple Original Films)
Phoenix is set to lead Napoleon in the lead role of Bonaparte. Phoenix is the award-winning actor best known for his roles in Joker, Gladiator, and Beau is Afraid. He’s no stranger to portraying larger-than-life figures, as he once portrayed Johnny Cash, and he has a knack for exceedingly complex characters. It’s anticipated his role as Bonaparte could land him another Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Also expected to be a shoo-in for the Oscars is Phoenix’s co-star, Vanessa Kirby, who will portray Bonaparte’s first wife, Empress Joséphine. Kirby is best known for her role in The Crown, and she is captivating in Napoleon‘s trailer as the bold, feisty, and fierce woman declaring Bonaparte is nothing without her.
The Prophet‘s Tahar Rahim will star as Paul Barras, a corrupt and powerful politician who aided in Bonaparte’s rise to power and set him up with Joséphine, while Sanditon‘s Matthew Needham will portray Bonaparte’s brother, Lucien Bonaparte. Another star from The Crown, Ben Miles, will appear in Napoleon as Caulaincourt, Bonaparte’s advisor. Ludivine Sagnier will also appear as Theresa Cabarrus, the Princess of Chimay. Other royalty appearing in Napoleon include Édouard Philipponnat as Alexander I, the Tsar of Russia, Rupert Everett as Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, and Catherine Walker as Marie-Antoinette.
Rounding out the cast of Napoleon are Paul Rhys as Talleyrand, Mark Bonnar as Jean-Andoche Junot, Youssef Kerkour as General Davout, Sam Crane as Jacques-Louis David, and Phil Cornwell as Sanson ‘The Borreau.’
What will Napoleon focus on?
(Sony Pictures Releasing/Apple Original Films)
Given how expansive and controversial Bonaparte’s history is, viewers may be wondering what part of his story Napoleon will focus most on. The official synopsis for the film reads:
“Napoleon is a spectacle-filled action epic that details the checkered rise and fall of the iconic French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Against a stunning backdrop of large-scale filmmaking orchestrated by legendary director Ridley Scott, the film captures Bonaparte’s relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his one true love, Josephine, showcasing his visionary military and political tactics against some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed.”
Hence, it appears the film will focus mainly on the years of Bonaparte’s rule, which lasted from 1804-1814, as well as the military career that preceded his rise to the throne. Additionally, while Bonaparte had two wives and many mistresses during his lifetime, the film will focus on his marriage to Joséphine. Joséphine is often considered Bonaparte’s “one true love,” although they divorced due to Bonaparte’s desire for an heir. It will be interesting to explore Bonaparte’s personal life, as his history is too often explored only in relation to his rule and military skill. With a grand scale, impressive cast, and deep dive into the tumultuous years of Bonaparte’s rule, Napoleon has the potential to be quite the historical epic.
This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the work being covered here wouldn’t exist.
(featured image: Sony Pictures Releasing/Apple Original Films )
Movies about Napoleon are nothing new. Kubrick tried to do one back in the day. Fortunately, this one appears to be nearly finished. Ridley Scott’s vision of the rise of the French emperor stars Joaquin Phoenix, perhaps one of the most revered actors right now.
Scott describes the film as:
“Napoleon Bonaparte’s relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his one true love, Josephine (Vanessa Kirby), showcasing his visionary military and political tactics against some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed.”
Back in 2021, Scott spoke with Deadline, explaining what interested him about the story and why he knew it was only Phoenix who could pull the role off.
“Napoleon is a man I’ve always been fascinated by, came out of nowhere to rule everything — but all the while he was waging a romantic war with his adulterous wife Josephine. He conquered the world to try to win her love, and when he couldn’t, he conquered it to destroy her, and destroyed himself in the process. No actor could ever embody Napoleon like Joaquin,” Scott said. “He created one of movie history’s most complex Emperors in Gladiator, and we’ll create another with his Napoleon. It’s a brilliant script written by David Scarpa, and today there’s no better partner than Apple to bring a story like this to a global audience.”
The trailer hints at a grand epic. It depicts a war waging within one man, as it leaks out into the world around him. Unfortunately, in the end, he wouldn’t win either one. The film will be released theatrically on Nov. 20. Some time afterward, it’ll be available to stream on Apple TV+.
You can watch the trailer for Napoleon below:
‘Napoleon’ Official Trailer – Watch
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Ridley Scott’s Gladiatoris now considered one of the best historical epics ever. Unfortunately, its star won’t be returning for the sequel. The long-in-development Gladiator 2 is going to be helmed once again by director Ridley Scott. But Crowe doesn’t generally make sequels, and the story of the film doesn’t necessarily lend itself to an appearance by his character anyway.
Yeah we’ve had dinner and talked about it and all that stuff. So I know roughly how he’s shaping the story. But yeah, if you remember, there was a young kid who wanted to beat the Gladiator, which leads to the ‘My name is’ speech. So that young kid has grown up, and he’s now the Emperor. I don’t know what else happens at that point, so that’s the idea. So it’s not a remake.
Crowe’s character, Maximus, died in the original film, so that would seemingly preclude him making an appearance in this sequel. Or maybe not; for many years, there was a Gladiator sequel in development that would have starred Crowe and seen his character get resurrected from the afterlife and rejoin his son in the real world. Other drafts of the movie reportedly included Jesus Christ as a character — and possibly an opponent! — of Maximus. In this version Maximus would have supposedly become an immortal, and survived to see the fall of Rome, and then lived through countless other wars up to the present day.
The story for the sequel they’re actually making now takes place a while after Maximus dies. And with Crowe not returning for this film it will instead star Aftersun actor Paul Mescal, supposedly as Maximus’ adult son.
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Paul Mescal is headed into the arena. More than 20 years after the original Gladiator made over $460 million worldwide and won best picture at the Oscars, a sequel directed by Ridley Scott and starring Mescal is coming, a rep for the filmmaker confirms to Vanity Fair.
Scott will produce the follow-up, which is penned by David Scarpa (All the Money in the World), with costume designer Jenny Yates and production designer Arthur Max returning to their roles from the 2002 film. According to Deadline, Mescal was the first actor to meet with Scott about the lead role shortly after the script’s final draft was completed in November. Although the director continued to meet with other stars, “Mescal clearly was Scott’s top choice following a fantastic meeting,” the outlet reports.
The 26-year-old actor, who earned an Emmy nomination for Hulu’s Normal People and is currently garnering Oscar buzz in Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun, will play Lucious, the grown son of Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla. That solves the central problem of a Gladiator sequel—what is there left to explore after (spoiler alert) Russell Crowe’s Maximus dies saving Lucilla and her son from the villainous Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), who also happens to be Lucious’ uncle?
Getting to more swords and sandals has been somewhat of a Colosseum-worthy battle. In 2018, the BBC delved into this outlandish development history, branding Gladiator’s the “strangest sequel never made.” In the years after the film’s smash success, both Scott and Crowe, who won the Academy Award for best actor, commissioned dueling concepts for a sequel. Scott reportedly enlisted John Logan, one of Gladiator’s writers for a follow-up without Crowe or gladiators themselves. Meanwhile, Crowe recruited singer-songwriter Nick Cave to write a script that his character could be in, cinematic death be damned. The supernatural final product featured Maximus in the afterlife and unsurprisingly died on the vine. “I enjoyed writing it very much because I knew on every level that it was never going to get made,” Cave would later admit.
Plans more recently got underway in 2018, when it was reported that Peter Craig (Top Gun: Maverick, The Batman) would pen the script. That iteration was seemingly scrapped in favor of the current vision, which Scott teased to Empire in 2021. “I’m already having [the next] Gladiator written now,” he said before referencing his upcoming Napoleon Bonaparte biopic starring Joaquin Phoenix. “So when I’ve done Napoleon, Gladiator will be ready to go.”
