Who is Gladiator 2 director, Ridley Scott? Joseph Quinn gushes over the Napoleon creator

Ridley Scott is transporting audiences back to ancient Rome with the eagerly awaited sequel, Gladiator II, slated for release later this year.

One of the film's stars, Joseph Quinn, recently expressed his excitement about being part of the project, and he lavished praise on the legendary director he has admired since childhood.

In an interview with Men's Health, Quinn talked about collaborating with Scott on the Gladiator sequel and shared how he has been inspired by many of Scott's iconic films.

"He is a world builder. He creates these films that utterly transport you, and that is a very rare thing to be able to do," Quinn said.

What other films has Ridley Scott directed?

At 86, the director remains a cornerstone of cinema, continuing to produce high-quality films like The Last Duel and his latest work, Napoleon, featuring Joaquin Phoenix.

For Quinn, the director's films have been pivotal in fostering his passion for cinema.

"I remember watching Blade Runner as a kind of rite-of-passage with my Dad when I was younger; Gladiator was a really seminal film for me; Thelma and Louise, American Gangster, Alien, obviously. There are so many, and there’s such a variety in that body of work that indicates the caliber of director that he is, and the kind of creativity that he’s able to harness and weaponize."

What did Joseph Quinn say about the plot of Gladiator II?

Gladiator II will focus on the now-adult Lucius (Paul Mescal), the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), as he endeavors to honor the legacy of the fallen hero Maximus Meridius from the first film. Alongside Mescal, Nielsen, and Quinn, the film features Pedro Pascal, Fred Hechinger, Denzel Washington, Derek Jacobi, and May Calamawy.

Similar to the first film, the sequel will include numerous grand sets and locations to authentically depict ancient Rome. For Quinn, this was one of the most enjoyable aspects of filming.

"Outside of making the film itself, it was a very rare experience as a human being to bear witness to ancient Rome," Quinn said.

"He built ancient Rome! Not a lot of people can do that—Ridley Scott can."

Gladiator II is set to hit theaters on November 22, 2024.