'I Take That Kind of Chance': Ridley Scott Explains Casting Up-and-Coming Star as Gladiator II Lead

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

In an era where sequels and reboots are happening for all successful and beloved IPs, Ridley Scott is introducing a continuation of 2000's Gladiator. However, the director is confident in his abilities and casting choices for Gladiator II.

The sequel to the 2000 cinematographic masterpiece will include a change in cast and take place over two decades after the original. Following Russell Crowe's death at the end of Gladiator, the Academy Award-winning actor will not return to reprise his role as Maximus. Instead, the leading role went to Paul Mescal, who plays his son Lucius, and director Ridley Scott argued casting the up-and-coming star in an interview for GQ Magazine.

Gladiator star Spencer Treat Clark speaks out about being recast with Paul Mescal for the central role in the upcoming historical sequel.

Paul Mescal became a star thanks to his role in the Hulu adaptation of Sally Rooney's novel Normal People, sending Mescal and his co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones into stardom. Mescal went on to star in two critically acclaimed films, 2023's All of Us Strangers and Aftersun, the latter gaining him his first Oscar nomination. However, the actor is still setting up his roots in the film industry, and Scott didn't have any issues with him being a relative newcomer.

"I do it all the time," Scott recalled with confidence. "Brad Pitt hadn’t done a f**king movie [before Thelma & Louise], and Sigourney Weaver [before Alien]. I take that kind of chance." Both actors became some of the most famous names in the industry, with Pitt taking home his first Oscar in 2020 for Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, and Weaver gaining no less than three Oscar nominations, one of them for 1986's Aliens, the sequel to the original directed by James Cameron.

Although the film is not yet in theaters and is one month away from its premiere, ever since the release of the trailer, Mescal has started to understand the responsibility that comes with starring in the Gladiator sequel. The trailer broke records and became one of Paramount's most-viewed previews ever.

"The bros will come up and be like, 'Can’t wait for Gladiator.' No proper handshakes, lots of this handshake,” the actor explains, showing the handshake hug beloved by dudes the world over. "I’m an honorary bro now."

The actor also addressed how universally beloved Russell Crowe is for the role. As he admitted he didn't contact Crowe to prepare for the role ("I wouldn’t know what to say."), he doesn't feel like this could be his career-defining role. "I think it’s also a mistake when people go, 'This was Russell’s thing,'" Mescal explains. "Russell had proven himself time and time again. And he proved himself time and time again after Gladiator. An amazing career like Russell has had wasn’t built by just Gladiator."

Fred Hechinger teases 'brutal' fight scenes between Gladiator II stars ahead of highly anticipated theatrical release.

Gladiator II will enlist the help of a number of famous names. Alongside Paul Mescal will be Pedro Pascal, known for his roles in The Last of Us and The Mandalorian. He is set to become Mescal's direct adversary, as his character, General Marcus Acacius forces Lucius into slavery and becomes a gladiator. Denzel Washington plays Macrinus, a former slave who became a power broker, and trains Lucius for his battles in the Colosseum.

The Gladiator sequel also stars Joseph Quinn (Emperor Geta), Fred Hechinger (Emperor Caracalla), and Derek Jacobi (Senator Gracchus), who returns from the original movie alongside Connie Nielsen, who plays Lucius' mother, Lucilla.

Gladiator II hits theaters internationally on Nov. 15 before premiering across North America on Nov. 22.

Source: GQ Magazine

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.

Your comment has not been saved

This thread is open for discussion.

Be the first to post your thoughts.

Paul Mescal details what upset him most when working with Gladiator director Ridley Scott.

The Death Eaters are some of Harry Potter's greatest enemies, and one theory believes they may be even more evil than fans think.

Robert Englund confirms the only way he's willing to revisit the role of Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street.

The Harry Potter franchise is a massive world with many characters and stories that have led to countless questions that still haven't been answered.

Superman writer-director James Gunn shares a first look image of Krypto the Superdog in the upcoming DC Universe movie.

The Addams Family-themed meals are coming to Burger King, including purple Whoppers.