Djimon Hounsou says he's not returning for Gladiator 2
Gladiator star Djimon Hounsou has confirmed he won't be returning for the upcoming sequel.
Ridley Scott's eagerly-anticipated follow-up to the iconic 2000 film will hit cinemas on November 22, 2024 – with Normal People's Paul Mescal set to star in the lead role.
Hounsou, who played Juba in the original film, has revealed that despite plans to star in Gladiator 2, a change in circumstances meant an appearance would not be possible.
Related: Russell Crowe denies Gladiator 2 return rumours
"Honestly, no," he told BroBible's Post Credit Podcast when asked about his involvement in the sequel. "And this was a pure accident in the way it unfolded. I was going to be part of it. Circumstances dictated it to be something different."
Gladiator 2 will see Mescal assume the role of Lucius, the son of Lucilla and nephew of Commodus – characters who were played by Connie Nielsen and Joaquin Phoenix in the first film.
Nielsen is set to reprise her role for the sequel, alongside a star-studded cast that includes The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Saltburn's Barry Keoghan, Stranger Things' Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Derek Jacobi and May Calamawy.
Related: Gladiator 2 bosses cast Paul Mescal after shirtless performance in West End show
David Scarpa, who collaborated with Scott on Napoleon, is penning the script. The award-winning director is also producing with Michael Pruss, Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher.
Following news of his casting, Mescal previously spoke to Esquire about the prospect of appearing in the epic.
"I can't tell you how stressed I am talking about that film in particular, because it's definitely the biggest one I've done. I feel really excited, but it's difficult to get away from the legacy of the [first] film a bit," he said.
"I think it's really well written and it pays homage to the first one, but it's very much something that I think I can step into and make comfortably my own."
Gladiator 2 will be released on November 22, 2024.
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