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Netflix actor Joseph Quinn has admitted he is “nervous” about the highly-anticipated Gladiator sequel, which comes 25 years after its wildly popular predecessor.
The Stranger Things star, who takes on the role of Emperor Caracalla in Sir Ridley Scott’s upcoming historical epic Gladiator 2, revealed that while he hasn’t watched the complete film, glimpses of footage have left him both excited and apprehensive.
Speaking to Variety, he shared: “I haven’t seen a cut of it. I’ve seen little moments of footage, and it looks like everything that you could possibly want.
“It’s paying homage to the first film, but very much making it’s its own thing. There’s some fantastic performances in it.
“And I’m very much looking forward to people seeing it – if not a little nervous about it,” he admitted.
2000’s Gladiator, which is an epic historical drama following the turbulent life of brave Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius, is one of the most popular films of the modern day.
It launched Russell Crowe’s career into the stratosphere and also provided Joker’s Joaquin Phoenix with one of his most memorable roles to date, as he portrays Commodus, the amoral and power-hungry son of Marcus Aurelius.
Gladiator 2 also boasts a star-studded cast, with Normal People’s Paul Mescal taking on the central role of Lucius Verus, the former heir to the Empire.
Other huge names include Denzel Washington as a former slave-turned-wealthy merchant, Pedro Pascal as a former military commander forced to fight as a gladiator, Connie Nielsen as Lucius’ mother Lucilla and Derek Jacobi as member of the Roman Senate Senator Gracchus.
Aside from his role in the Gladiator sequel, Quinn is also gearing up to portray Johnny Storm, also known as the Human Torch, in Marvel’s upcoming Fantastic Four reboot.
The actor, who plays the heroic Eddie Munson in Stranger Things, shared that he sought advice from his A Quiet Place: Day One co-star Lupita Nyong’o, who has experience in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Nakia in the Black Panther films.
He explained: “She told me that it was an experience that I could very much look forward to… She told me to be open-minded and just to commit very hard.”
Quinn had previously expressed that collaborating with Nyong’o was a significant factor in his decision to join the project.
Speaking to GQ UK about working with Lupita Nyong’o, he revealed: “I learned a lot working with Lupita. The way that she conducts herself, just as a human being, as well as the choices she makes as an actor really informed whatever I thought I was doing.
“She’s very discerning. By no means am I saying that I am, I just saw that in her. So I guess it was, at the risk of sounding a bit lofty, trying to give myself a little permission to be selective.”
Gladiator 2 hits UK cinemas on Friday, November 22, 2024.