It was the film which launched Russell Crowe to super stardom, picked up five Oscars and now Normal People actor Paul Mescal is the front-runner to lead the Gladiator sequel.
After false starts, director Ridley Scott has confirmed the script is ready to go for another epic battle-filled feast and it’s been reported Mescal is in talks to take on the role of Lucius, the son of Lucilla.
The blockbuster first movie was released almost 23 years ago in May 2000 and coined in a jaw-dropping $460.5million in the Box Office.
READ MORE: Courtney Love claims Brad Pitt ‘stalked her’ over Kurt Cobain biopic backlash
But what happened to the stars of the original? Daily Star investigates.
Russell Crowe (Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius)
(Image: Getty Images)
Hollywood hits kept rolling for the New Zealand-born actor who won praise for his performances as a mathematician in A Beautiful Mind, in thriller LA Confidential and showed a different side in musical Les Misérables.
He’s currently working on Spider-Man Universe.
As well as acting Russell, 58, launched a music career with band The Ordinary Fear of God.
His affair with Proof Of Life co-star Meg Ryan caused the breakdown of her marriage to Dennis Quaid before he then wed now ex-wife Danielle Spencer.
His bad temper earned its own reputation after Russell threw a phone at a hotel concierge and had a fight in London restaurant Zuma, broken up by Ross Kemp.
Connie Nielsen (Lucilla)
(Image: Jaap Buitendijk/Dreamworks/Universal/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)
She worked with Robin Williams on One Hour Photo, Tommy Lee Jones in The Hunted and John Travolta in Basic.
And Connie, 57, also caused a stir alongside Uma Thurman in erotic art drama Nymphomaniac.
A relationship with Metallica drummer and fellow Dane, Lars Ulrich resulted in her first-born son Bryce.
Oliver Reed (Antonius Proximo)
(Image: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)
His outing as a gladiator trainer would be the screen legend’s final film when he died aged 61 after arm wrestling sailors in a Malta pub.
Renowned for his love of booze, and binge drinking the former Oliver! star had landed in many scrapes due to his alcoholism.
A body double and CGI were used to film his remaining Gladiator scenes and Russell Crowe later said: “I never got on with Ollie.
“He has visited me in dreams and asked me to talk kindly of him so I should, but we never had a pleasant conversation.”
Joaquin Phoenix (Commodus)
(Image: Dreamworks/Universal/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)
A controversial character, he went on to win Oscars for his turn as Johnny Cash in Walk The Line and as the lead in Joker.
Joaquin fooled almost all when he announced a career change as a rapper which he turned into mockumentary I’m Still Here.
A fierce animal rights activist, he’s set to play Napoleon next.
After dating Liv Tyler, Joaquin is now engaged to Rooney Mara, mother of his son River, named after his late star brother.
Richard Harris (Marcus Aurelius)
(Image: Jaap Buitendijk/Dreamworks/Universal/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)
The acclaimed Irish actor took on The Count of Monte Cristo after Gladiator but then became better known among younger audiences as headmaster of Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films.
Known for his hellraising antics involving drugs and booze, he died in 2002 aged 72 from Hodgkin’s disease leaving behind three sons.
Derek Jacobi (Gracchus)
(Image: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock)
More big screen success came with Gosford Park, The King’s Speech, and Murder on the Orient Express for the respected star, who was made a Sir in 1994.
His next project is the film adaptation of Alan Bennett’s play Allelujah alongside Dame Judi Dench and Jennifer Saunders.
The thespian’s stage roles are numerous and he is a fierce supporter of Shakespeare’s works.
Derek, 84, is in a civil partnership with theatre director Richard Clifford.
Omid Djalili (slave trader)
(Image: Gladiator)
He was also in Malta at the time of Oliver Reed’s death, describing it as “very tragic”.
The comedian’s career has seen him in films such as Sex and the City 2 and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and fronting ITV game show Winning Combination.
Last year Omid, 57, shot two pilots for the chat show Tonight With Omid.
In 2019 the married dad-of-three ended up in a Twitter row for derogatory remarks about the Welsh.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here
READ NEXT:
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
