Ridley Scott’s upcoming Gladiator II has debuted official stills, via Vanity Fair, of Paul Mescal in character as Lucius in the upcoming historical blockbuster.
Mescal is joined in an all-star ensemble cast that includes Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us), Denzel Washington (Training Day), Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things), and Fred Hechinger (The White Lotus), as well as returning cast members of the original film Connie Nielsen (Nobody) and Derek Jacobi (Hamlet).
The upcoming sequel sees Scott collaborate once more with Academy Award-nominated cinematographer John Mathieson, Academy Award-nominated production designer Arthur Max, and Academy Award-winning costume designer Janty Yates, all of whom worked on the original Gladiator. As well as writer David Scarpa who worked with Scott on All The Money In The World.
Mescal, the IFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated star of Normal People, Aftersun and All of Us Strangers, will star as Lucius, the son of Lucilla, Russell Crowe’s love interest in the original 2000 film.
Speaking about his suitability for the role with Vanity Fair, Mescal told them: “My nose just is kind of Roman, so it’s useful in this context. The nose that I absolutely hated when I was in secondary school—and used to get ribbed for—became very, very useful when Ridley needed somebody to be in Gladiator II.”
Director Ridley Scott told the publication that he first saw Mescal in Normal People and the actor immediately caught his eye. “When I watch anything, I tend to be clocking who’s interesting,” Scott told Vanity Fair. “It’s just in my DNA. And so, watching a TV show that’s not really my kind of TV show almost four years ago, I said, ‘Who’s this guy?’”
“I met with him and he said, ‘Of course, I’d love to do it.’ And that was it,” Scott added. “We were away and running with the ball. He was a special find. He was absolutely perfect.”
Gladiator II releases in cinemas on 15th November this year.
