Gladiator IIstar 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’sGladiatorsees Mescal starring as Lucius, Maximus' (Crowe) son, who finds himself fighting in the Colosseum after Romans conquer his home. In addition to Mescal, theGladiator 2castfeatures 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 withScreen Rant, Mescal addresses the pressures of becoming the face ofGladiator 2after 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
Gladiatorremains 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. OnRotten Tomatoes, the film boasts a 79% critics' and a strong 87% audience score. In addition to faring well with critics,Gladiatorwas also a major force at the box office, grossing $465.5 million worldwide.
Why Gladiator 2 Recast Lucius
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, andthe bar has been set high for Mescal and for the movie more generally. This is further complicated by the fact thatGladiator 2trailershave 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. Scott is evidently optimistic the sequel will be embraced, however, as he’s already expressedinterest in makingGladiator 3.
Newcomers inGladiator 2cast 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 thatLucius 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 likeNormal People(2020) andAftersun(2022).
Where Mescal remains untested, however, is as an action star. Prior toGladiator, Crowe had appeared in a variety of films with action elements, includingThe Quick and the Dead(1995),No Way Back(1995), andL.A. Confidential(1997), but Mescal has no such experience. Scott certainly has confidence in Mescal, however, andGladiator 2is shaping up to be an exciting return to Ancient Rome.
Gladiator II
Cast
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.
