After the breakthrough in the TV series "Normal People", Paul Mescal has been praised by critics for slim films like "Aftersun" and "All of us strangers". But now the Irishman is stepping up to the big stage – in the lead role as Lucius in "Gladiator II".
Director Ridley Scott says that he was hooked on Paul Mescal after seeing him in "Normal People".
I thought directly, "we'll have him". He's like Marcus Aurelius and has an old Roman nose, says the legendary director.
The plot of "Gladiator II" revolves around the Roman Lucius, who is brought to Rome as a prisoner of war and slave. Like in the first film, the main character must literally fight his way through the Colosseum in Rome to survive.
Compared to Crowe
Paul Mescal is forced to put up with comparisons to Russell Crowe from the first film. But it would not have been possible to try to copy him.
It would have been impossible for me to do so. I had to create Lucius from scratch.
Russell did it his way, carefully and brilliantly. And it's my task to try to do the same but with a different character.
Paul Mescal, however, does not carry "Gladiator II" on his own shoulders. Pedro Pascal ("The Last of Us", "The Mandalorian") has a major role, and many critics believe that Denzel Washington steals the entire film as the intriguing slave owner Macrinus.
"Enjoying this"
It's unusual to have such a big star in a supporting role, but Denzel Washington, who will soon turn 70, says that he now only chooses roles based on what feels fun.
I'm starting to enjoy this with playing the second lead, says Washington to TT and continues:
The young man (Paul Mescal) was down there fighting and being thrown around by horses and rhinos and all that. Then it wasn't so bad to sit in the stands, he says and laughs.
A French newspaper recently wrote that Ridley Scott had already decided that there will be a third film. Now he confirms the news.
Yes, I sat down one day and came up with how to do the story without returning to the arena, says he and continues:
You can't go back to the Colosseum again. So you have to find a new Colosseum, but I'm not going to tell what it is, but it's written down on paper.
"Gladiator II" has its cinema premiere on November 14.
In "Gladiator" from 2000, Russell Crowe plays the Roman general Maximus. Joaquin Phoenix portrays the emperor's son Commodus and the Danish actress Connie Nielsen Lucilla.
Connie Nielsen is one of two actors from the first film who are also in "Gladiator II". The other is Derek Jacobi, in the role of Senator Gracchus.
The other roles in the film are played by Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Fred Hechinger. Swedish actor Alexander Karim also has a major supporting role.
