Gladiator IIstar Paul Mescal reveals the first time he watchedGladiatorand shared his father’s reaction to the news of his casting. In Ridley Scott’s highly-anticipated sequel Mescal plays a grown-up Lucius, son of Lucilla (Connie Neilson) and Maximus (Russel Crowe), and nephew of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). The sequel will follow Lucius under fascist Roman rule as he’s forced to enter the Colosseum in a vengeful state like his father.Gladiator IIis set to releaseon November 22 and also stars Denzel Washington as Macrinus, an opportunistic arms dealer, and Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius, a fearsome Roman general.
In an interview withBritish GQ,Mescal recalls his first time watching the movie as a teenager. He also shares that his father “lost his mind” when he heard the actor would star in the upcoming sequel, as it was one of his favorite movies. Mescal rewatched the movie with his friends and believes the original historical epic still holds up. Check out his quote below:
I remember watching it. I would’ve been about like 14 or 15, so around 2010. It’s one of my dad’s favorite films, so he lost his mind when he found out I was doing it. I think one of the great strengths of that film is how well it holds up. Me and my friends were down at my house. We decided to watch it again, which was kind of a painful experience for me, but they were just doing their homework, I suppose.
It’s A Historical Epic About Father & Son
Scott’sGladiatorreceived great acclaim, winning five Oscars including Best Picture in 2001, leaving many to wonder if the sequel will deliver an epic of the same caliber. Nonetheless, Mescal’s connection toGladiatorthrough his father further reassures fans of the first film that Mescal’s performance inGladiator IIwould be a suitable follow-up to Crowe.His intense physical transformation for the role already demonstrated the actor’s commitmentto embodying a character driven by loyalty and purpose in a sequel that will be more violent and raw than the original.
Mescal has an opportunity to translate this dedication to his father intoLucius’ commitment to his father, Maximus, who must now uphold the ferocious gladiator’s legacy and ensure that his father did not die in vain.This adds a deeper emotional layer to the actor’s performance, which has not gone unnoticed by co-star Washington, who remarked that Mescal “knows what he’s doing."
Our Take On Mescal In Gladiator II
The Anticipation For The Sequel Is Building
Given the actor’s breakthrough work inNormal PeopleandAftersun, it will be no surprise if Mescal delivers his own Oscar-worthy performance as a son haunted by a brutal past and even a more fierce present. In this latest interview, Mescal further builds anticipation for his portrayal inGladiator II, as audiences look forward to how he will honor the legacy of the original film while bringing a fresh perspective to the beloved series.
