Ridley Scott revealed to Vanity Fair that he cast Paul Mescal after being impressed by his performance in “Normal People.”
Paramount Pictures has released the official trailer for Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator 2,” featuring Paul Mescal as the adult Lucius. This highly anticipated sequel is scheduled to hit theaters on November 22.
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Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and nephew to the original film’s villain Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), was originally portrayed by Spencer Treat Clark in “Gladiator.” The sequel follows Lucius years later in Numidia, a region in North Africa where his mother sent him to escape the Roman Empire’s reach. Circumstances draw Lucius back to Rome, where he returns as a gladiator, encounters new adversaries, and reunites with his mother.
The film’s supporting cast includes Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius, a Roman general trained under Maximus Decimus Meridius (played by Russell Crowe in “Gladiator”), Denzel Washington as Macrinus, a wealthy Roman who maintains a stable of gladiators, and Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger as the twin emperors of Rome.
Ridley Scott revealed to Vanity Fair that he cast Mescal after being impressed by his performance in “Normal People.” A brief conversation convinced Scott that Mescal was the perfect lead for “Gladiator 2.”
Mescal’s intense physical preparation for the role earned him the nickname “Brick Wall Paul” from co-star Pascal, who found their on-screen combat daunting. Pascal quipped, “I’d rather be thrown from a building than fight him again. Facing someone that fit, talented, and much younger is brutal.”
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Watch the ‘Gladiator 2’ trailer below:
In the original “Gladiator,” Russell Crowe’s Maximus, a betrayed Roman general, is sold into slavery and forced to fight as a gladiator while seeking vengeance for his family. Maximus ultimately saves Lucius and Lucilla. The film was a commercial success and won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor.