Gladiator 2 brings back Connie Nielsen and adds Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn

As the production of the sequel to Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning Gladiator continues to take shape, chalk down two more names added to an already impressive cast. Once Scott officially confirmed he’d be returning to the sword and sandals movie, Hollywood had every up-and-coming actor pining for a role. While the main two stars of the original, Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, would be counted out as returning characters, Deadline reports that one familiar face which Scott will be bringing back is Connie Nielsen, who reprises her role as Lucilla.

Lucilla is the mother of Lucious, who has been promoted to the main character of this film, and this older version will be portrayed by Paul Mescal. While the two main characters of the first had completed their arcs, Scott made sure there was still a connection and wanted to involve Nielsen as much as he could during the story development period. For this film, Lucious, now grown, had been influenced by Crowe’s Maximus and is determined to follow his example as a formidable figure in a harsh world.

Additionally, Joseph Quinn is said to be in negotiations to play Emperor Caracalla for the untitled sequel. Quinn made a breakthrough as a scene-stealing character in the most recent season of Stranger Things as fan-favorite, Eddie Munson. He is already working with Paramount after they saw his Munson performance and cast him in the spin-off to A Quiet Place, titled A Quiet Place: Day One. According to insiders, the execs at Paramount are already impressed with Quinn’s performance in Day One as he held his own acting opposite Academy Award-winning actress, Lupita Nyong’o.

The Gladiator sequel has already attached names like Denzel Washington and The Banshees of Inisherin‘s Barry Keoghan to the cast. Scott will be returning to produce with his company, Scott Free, in addition to directing the film. He will be joined in producing duties by Michael Pruss, alongside Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher of Red Wagon Entertainment. David Scarpa writer of The Man in High Castle, All the Money in the World, and The Day the Earth Stood Still is penning the script.