While Ridley Scott is busy preparing to release his two latest movies, The Last Duel and House Of Gucci, later this fall, the acclaimed filmmaker is already prepping his next projects. The director is not only in pre-production on his Napoleon biopic, Kitbag, but also working on his following feature, the long-awaited sequel to the 2000 Oscar-winning historical drama, Gladiator.
The four-time Academy Award-nominated helmer-producer’s 14th century-set epic drama, The Last Duel, and the Lady Gaga-starring biographical crime movie, House of Gucci, are set to be distributed in theaters in October and November, respectively. After those films are released, Scott will begin focusing on Kitbag, which will chronicle Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise to power. The biopic will star Free Guy actress Jodie Comer, and reunite him with Gladiator star Joaquin Phoenix, who will take on the lead role.
During an interview for the latest issue of Empire, Scott discussed his take on Napoleon’s story. “The thing that really makes Napoleon tick is, why was he in so much need of Josephine?
” the director said. “There was a need for each other. And we think we’ve pinpointed what that was.”
While Kitbag will be a big-budgeted production with a laborious shoot, Scott is already thinking about Maximus Decimus Meridius’ next journey. The filmmaker will finally get started on his long-gestating plans for a sequel to the celebrated historical drama.
“I’m already having [the next] Gladiator written now,” Scott shared during the interview. “So when I’ve done Napoleon, Gladiator will be ready to go.”
The director didn’t reveal how the anticipated Gladiator sequel will tie in with the death of Maximus, who was played by Russell Crowe in an Academy Award-winning role. But Scott was adamant in his intent to bring the follow-up into production in the near future.