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Gladiator II star Paul Mescal comments on the pressure that comes with taking over as franchise lead from Russell Crowe. Directed by Ridley Scott, the sequel to 2000's Gladiator sees Mescal starring as Lucius, Maximus' (Crowe) son, who finds himself fighting in the Colosseum after Romans conquer his home. In addition to Mescal, the Gladiator 2 cast features returning actors Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi, but Crowe doesn't return as Maximus after his character's death in the original. Maximus remains one of Crowe's most memorable characters, setting the bar high for the franchise's new star.
In a recent interview with Screen Rant, Mescal addresses the pressures of becoming the face of Gladiator 2 after Crowe's Oscar-winning role in the original movie, sharing a thoughtful response. Though he does admit to feeling pressure, the actor reveals that Scott's involvement put his mind at ease. Check out Mescal's response below:
Yes. Yes and no. Because it was Ridley at the center of both of those stories, and he directed the first one with such brilliance that the fact that he was behind the camera on this filled me with confidence. But of course, there's a natural nervousness and a desire to deliver, but that's true of anything regardless of a legacy of a film that's preceded yours.
What The Original Gladiator's Reputation Means For Mescal's Lucius
Ridley Scott's Original Is Beloved
Gladiator remains one of the most iconic movies of Crowe's career, and of Scott's. Crowe won an Oscar for his performance as Maximus, and the film also took home the statue for Best Picture. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film boasts a 79% critics' and a strong 87% audience score. In addition to faring well with critics, Gladiator was also a major force at the box office, grossing $465.5 million worldwide.
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Gladiator 2 turns the story to focus on Lucius, but the sequel recasts the original actor Spencer Treat Clark with Paul Mescal replacing him.
Gladiator 2, then, faces a major uphill battle, and the bar has been set high for Mescal and for the movie more generally. This is further complicated by the fact that Gladiator 2 trailers have now revealed that Lucius is Maximus' son. Comparisons between Mescal's performance and Crowe's are now inevitable, and it will be a challenge for Mescal to live up to what was a career-defining performance, even with all of the talented new actors that joined the sequel's cast.
Newcomers in Gladiator 2 cast include: Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn, and Fred Hechinger.
Our Take On Mescal's Lucius In Gladiator 2
Will He Be Able To Fill Russell Crowe's Shoes?
Trailers thus far have teased that Lucius has many similarities to Maximus, but it also seems like Mescal is very much making the character his own. Aside from the armor and the DNA, Lucius doesn't seem like a carbon copy of Maximus, and he appears to be going through his own unique journey, both inside the Colosseum and in life. It's in the differences between the two characters that Mescal will probably really shine, as he's proven himself an especially talented actor with projects like Normal People (2020) and Aftersun (2022).
Where Mescal remains untested, however, is as an action star. Prior to Gladiator, Crowe had appeared in a variety of films with action elements, including The Quick and the Dead (1995), No Way Back (1995), and L.A. Confidential (1997), but Mescal has no such experience. Scott certainly has confidence in Mescal, however, and Gladiator 2 is shaping up to be an exciting return to Ancient Rome.
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 Joseph Quinn 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.
Release Date November 22, 2024
Studio(s) Paramount Pictures , Universal Pictures , Scott Free Productions , Red Wagon Entertainment
Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures
Writers David Scarpa , Peter Craig , David Franzoni
Character(s) Lucius Verus , Marcus Acacius , Macrinus , Lucilla , Emperor Caracalla , Emperor Geta , Gracchus
Main Genre Adventure
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