Gladiator sequel 'in development'

Djimon Hounsou said he would be likely to star in the new film

A sequel to the Oscar-winning Gladiator movie is being developed, according to one of the stars of the film.

Djimon Hounsou said preparations were under way for a second film, despite Russell Crowe's character being killed at the end of the first film.

Hounsou, who played slave Juba in the 2000 movie, said there was "definitely the desire is to do a sequel".

"They're not happy about what they have for now, so they're still working on it," Hounsou added.

Five Oscars

"I would probably be in the centre of it as one of the leads," he said.

In the original movie Hounsou played an African slave who fought alongside Crowe's Maximus in Rome's Colosseum.

Crowe's character, General Maximus Decimus Meridius, was killed at the end of the film.

Many of the other main characters also ended up dead, including Emperor Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix.

The film won five Oscars, including a best actor Academy Award for Crowe.

Hounsou, originally from Benin in Africa, made the comments in New York while promoting his latest film The Island.

He stars opposite Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson in the futuristic thriller about cloning human beings.