Ridley Scott has found the god of music for his upcoming “Gladiator” sequel.
Harry Gregson-Williams has been hired to compose the score for the hotly-anticipated Paramount feature, which is due out Nov. 22, more than 24 years after the Oscar-winning original.
The film marks the seventh collaboration between Scott and Gregson-Williams, with the composer having penned the scores for “The Martian,” “Prometheus,” “Exodus: Gods and Kings,” “Kingdom of Heaven,” “The Last Duel” and “House of Gucci.” Other credits for Gregson-Williams include “Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget,” “The Meg,” “Mulan,” “The Gilded Age,” “The Equalizer,” “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason,” “The Chronicles of Narnia” and all three “Shrek” films.
In something of nice twist, Gregson-Williams also spent many years as the protégé of Hans Zimmer, who was the composer on the first “Gladiator” (and landed an Oscar nomination for his work).
With a script penned by David Scarpa, the “Gladiator” sequel will focus on Lucius, the nephew of Commodus who is now a grown man. Paul Mescal will play the lead role, heading up a cast that also includes Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Derek Jacobi, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger and Pedro Pascal.
Scott directs and produces alongside Michael Pruss via Scott Free, Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher via Red Wagon Entertainment with David Franzoni, Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald, Raymond Kirk and Aidan Elliot exec producing.
Scott most recently directed “Napoleon,” starring Joaquin Phoenix as the notorious French leader, which has grossed over $200 million worldwide.
Gregson-Williams is repped by the Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency, Inc.
