The newest cast member joining Aftersun star Paul Mescal in the arena on the set of the  Gladiator sequel is The Mandalorian and The Last of Us actor Pedro Pascal.

It's a continuation of the 2000 film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott. Mescal's character Lucius (originally played by Spencer Treat Clark) is now an adult and the first in line for the throne of Rome after his antagonistic uncle Commodus is killed in the first film by Russell Crowe's gladiator Maximus.

The script will be written by All the Money in The World's David Scarpa.

Already announced for the project are The Banshees of Inisherin star Barry Keoghan, playing the Emperor Geta, and Denzel Washington. Connie Nielsen is returning as Lucius' mother, Lucilla.

The announcement comes after the trailer for Pedro Almodóvar’s Strange Way of Life dropped last week, a gay western short film in which Pascal and Ethan Hawke play estranged gay lovers who reunite after a woman in town has been murdered.

Gladiator 2 is, at the moment, expected to release next year on November 22nd, although no teasers have yet been released.