Paul Mescal Talks Transformation for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator Sequel
Paul Mescal gazes out the window, reflecting on his role as a warrior fighting for survival in Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel to Gladiator. The light casts angular shadows on his face, evoking the image of a timeless marble bust. “My nose just has that Roman look,” he remarks. “It’s surprisingly fitting for this role. The nose I once despised in secondary school, subject to teasing, now serves me well in Ridley’s Gladiator II.”
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Paul Mescal
In Gladiator II, Mescal’s character Lucius mimics a scene reminiscent of Russell Crowe’s Maximus, washing his hands in the sand—a homage to the original film. The first trailer for Gladiator II is set to debut on July 9.
Mescal, known for his breakout role as Connell Waldron in Normal People, never anticipated transitioning from the sensitive Connell to a fierce sword-wielding hero in the sequel to the 2001 Oscar-winning film. However, Ridley Scott discovered him through the romantic series adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel. “When I watch anything, I’m always noting who stands out,” Scott explains. “It’s just in my nature. While watching a show not typically in my wheelhouse nearly four years ago, I found myself asking, ‘Who’s this guy?'”
As the possibility of Gladiator II took shape, Scott arranged a Zoom meeting with Mescal during the actor’s run in A Streetcar Named Desire in London. “I met him and he said, ‘Absolutely, I’d love to do it.’ And that was it,” Scott recalls. “We were off and running. He was a remarkable discovery, perfectly suited for the role.”
Confirming the swift progression, Mescal recalls, “We talked for about 20 to 30 minutes. I wanted to understand the story’s essence, so we spent 15 minutes on that and another 10 discussing Gaelic football, a sport I grew up with. Maybe that connection helped because I’m accustomed to physicality.” Despite discussions about a camera test, Scott determined it unnecessary. “Within two or three weeks, the offer arrived,” Mescal adds.
With Gladiator II slated for release on November 22, the narrative explores life after Maximus, who sacrificed himself, challenging the corrupt leadership of Rome. Mescal portrays Lucius, last seen as the young son of Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla from the original film. Nielsen reprises her role, embodying one of the few historical figures in the otherwise fictional Gladiator storyline—Lucilla, daughter of the late Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Historically, Lucilla was a revolutionary figure disheartened by Rome’s trajectory after her father’s death.
