Paul Mescal explains why he chose Gladiator 2 as his first major blockbuster role. A sequel to Ridley Scott’s Best Picture-winning film from 2000, the upcoming historical epic will introduce Mescal as an adult Lucius, the son of Lucilla who was played by Spencer Treat Clark in the first film. Other than Mescal, the Gladiator 2 cast introduces Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, and May Calamawy as new characters, with Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi reprising their roles from the first film.
In a conversation with AnOther Magazine ahead of the Gladiator 2 release date, Mescal explained why he chose Ridley Scott’s sequel as his first major blockbuster role. The Irish actor says it was less of a conscious choice, and more of an inability to turn down the project, considering the “scale of film” and the opportunity “to work with Ridley Scott.” Before Gladiator 2, there simply weren’t any “larger films” that “remotely interested” Mescal. Read his full explanation below:
Gladiator comes across your desk and there’s no way you say no to it. But with this scale of film, and to work with Ridley Scott, it’s a no-brainer. Up until this point there have been very few larger films that remotely interested me. It feels really right. And also there’s the capacity to learn. It’s the first time that I’ve felt a pressure of, “God, I’m worried about box office receipts.” It’s a different metric. But Ridley shoots at a very different rhythm – he’s quick and it’s kinetic and wonderful. He knows exactly what he wants. It honestly reminds me of sport in a way that is really satisfying.
Paul Mescal Is Primed For A Big Breakout In Gladiator 2
Paul Mescal is primed for a big breakout in his first blockbuster film, which is incredibly exciting for those who have followed his career closely. Before Gladiator 2, Mescal opted mostly for smaller, independent projects that showcased his subtle sensibilities as an actor. His initial breakout came in the Hulu miniseries Normal People, earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series. His feature film debut came in 2021’s The Lost Daughter and in only his third film, A24’s Aftersun, his quietly devastating performance as a troubled father earned him his first nomination for an Academy Award.
Every Paul Mescal Movie, Ranked
Paul Mescal is one of the most exciting up and coming actors working today, this list ranks the Irish actor’s short filmography from worst to best.
In Ridley Scott, Mescal is teaming with an accomplished director who can combine box office success with awards season heat. In addition to grossing over $465 million, the original Gladiator was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won five, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe as Maximus. While Mescal should turn in a similarly strong performance as Lucius, the expectation of big box office returns, which the actor alludes to, presents brand-new pressure for him. Gladiator 2 will endure an especially long road to becoming a box office success because of its bloated $250–310 million budget.
Gladiator 2
Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Barry Keoghan as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
- Director
- Ridley Scott
- Release Date
- November 22, 2024
- Studio(s)
- Paramount Pictures , Universal Pictures , Scott Free Productions , Red Wagon Entertainment
- Distributor(s)
- Paramount Pictures
- Writers
- David Scarpa
- Cast
- Paul Mescal , Denzel Washington , Connie Nielsen , Derek Jacobi , Joseph Quinn , Fred Hechinger , Pedro Pascal
- prequel(s)
- Gladiator
