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Barry Keoghan quits Gladiator sequel and replaced by The White Lotus star-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro
Paul Mescal also stars.
Barry Keoghan has stepped down from the Gladiator sequel (Picture: Getty)
Barry Keoghan has dropped out of the Gladiator sequel.
It was reported in March that The Banshees of Inisherin star, 30, was in talks to play Emperor Geta in the follow-up to the 2000 historical epic.
However, he is now set to be replaced.
As reported by Deadline, scheduling conflicts mean he’s no longer available for ther role.
The White Lotus star Fred Hechinger, 23, is now in talks to replace the Irish actor.
According to Above the Line, Barry was reportedly forced to leave the role in order to star in Bird, the next film from American Honey filmmaker Andrea Arnold.
The White Lotus star Fred Hechinger is said to replace him (Picture: Amy Sussman/WireImage)
There is no info on the plot available for the flick just yet.
As for Gladiator, in the original film, Russell Crowe played Maximus, a former general forced into becoming a gladiator under the rule of the evil Roman emperor Commodus, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix.
The Gladiator sequel – for which plot details are being kept under wraps – also stars Paul Mescal as Lucius, the son of Maximus’ lover Lucilla and the nephew of Commodus.
Although, his West End role is said to have delayed production by two weeks.
Connie Nielsen is reprising her role as Lucilla, while previously announced newcomers include Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, and Joseph Quinn.
On Thursday, it was revealed that Moon Knight’s May Calamawy, British comedian Matt Lucas, Lior Raz, and Peter Mensah had been added to the cast.
Ridley Scott confirmed the sequel and his hunt for leading stars over a year ago (Picture: Taylor Hill/WireImage)
According to Deadline, Derek Jacobi will also be reprising his role as Gracchus.
Sir Ridley Scott is directing and producing the project from a script penned by David Scarpa.
The filmmaker has shared his excitement for the project already, confirming the sequel over a year ago while on the hunt for his new leading ladies and men.
Filming for the blockbuster will kick off in Morocco this May.
An insider previously told The Sun: ‘This has been building since 2018 and for a long time it looked like it may never see the light of day.
‘But suddenly late last year the production team really sprung into life after settling on a new script which seemed to inspire them.’
Normal People star Paul Mescal also stars, but his West End role is said to have disrupted production (Picture: PA)
They added: ‘A few months later everything was up and running and now it’s well underway.
‘They should be filming by May, which means there’s every chance the movie will be ready sometime in 2024. Either way, this would be a huge box office draw.’
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Released in 2000, Sir Ridley’s acclaimed blockbuster made a whopping £460million at the box office and also won five Academy Awards, including the coveted best picture gong.
It also scooped a string of other accolades including Baftas and Golden Globes.
The Gladiator sequel is due to be released in cinemas on 22 November, 2024.
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