Richard Madden, Timothée Chalamet Fall Short in Gladiator 2 Casting Showdown

It looks like Eternals star Richard Madden has missed out on the opportunity to take the lead in the highly anticipated Gladiator 2. The follow-up to the 2000 epic, which won Best Picture and earned Russell Crowe an Oscar for his role as Maximus, has reportedly found its new leading man in Normal People's Paul Mescal.

Deadline revealed that Mescal is in talks to play the grown-up Lucius Verus in the sequel, set after the death of Crowe's character. The Hollywood Reporter's Borys Kit also added that several other young and prominent actors, including Madden, Miles Teller, Austin Butler, and Timothée Chalamet, were in the running for the part. However, according to Deadline, Mescal remained the top choice for director Ridley Scott, who was reportedly searching for a rising star to take on the role.

While it's not clear how far Madden made it in the casting process, it seems he ultimately lost out to Mescal. Fans of the MCU actor have taken to social media to express their disappointment, with some saying they believe Madden or Chalamet would have been a better fit for the part.

"I can't believe they passed on Richard Madden," tweeted one disappointed fan. "He would have been perfect for this role."

Another wrote, "Timothée Chalamet would have been an amazing choice for Gladiator 2. I can't believe they went with someone else."

Despite the backlash from some fans, Mescal's casting is being met with excitement from others, who are eager to see the breakout star take on a leading role in a major Hollywood production.

Gladiator 2 is expected to begin production this summer, with a release date potentially slated for 2024 or 2025. Until then, fans will have to wait and see what Mescal brings to the table as the new face of the franchise.