Gladiator 2 Star Teases Sequel Pays Homage To Original Legacy Movie
Paul Mezcal discusses how Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2 pays homage to the original 2000 film. In Scott’s signature film starring Russell Crowe, former Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius is sold to a gladiator trainer and sent to fight in the Colosseum. He then sought revenge on the tyrant Commodus, who murdered his family. In the film sequel, Mezcal will play Lucius Verus II, nephew of Commodus, previously played by Spencer Treat Clark. In an interview with Esquire, Mezcal said he feels pressured because this particular role is the biggest project he’s been in to date. While he couldn’t offer any specific insight into the details of his character (e.g. whether Lucius is a gladiator or not), Gladiator 2 was “really well written” and was “the first It’s a tribute to the part.” While the original film’s legacy will always be present in the sequel’s production, Mezcal feels he “can comfortably own the role.” You can read Mezcal’s full statement below.
I can’t get into that! I can’t tell you how stressed I am talking about that film in particular, because it’s definitely the biggest one I’ve done. I feel really excited, but, like, it’s difficult to get away from the legacy of the film a bit. I think it’s really well written, and it pays homage to the first one, but it’s very much something that I think I can step into and make comfortably my own.
The Stars Behind Gladiator 2
Winner of the 2001 Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Actor, Gladiator holds an important place in film history. With over $460 million in box office grosses worldwide, Mezcal certainly has a huge responsibility to fulfill, especially considering director Ridley Scott’s 11-year losing streak on sequels. The film may be Mezcal’s biggest work to date, but he’s by no means a Hollywood newcomer. In 2020, he played Connell in the Hulu miniseries Normal People, based on Sally Rooney’s novel of the same name. Other actors confirmed for Gladiator 2 include Connie Nielsen, who will return as Lucilla, Commodus’ sister and Maximus’ ex-lover. Stranger Things star Joseph Quinn will play Emperor Caracalla, known for his cruelty and violence. He’s also set to star Denzel Washington, though the role hasn’t been announced yet. Given the accolades the original received, much anticipation surrounds Gladiator 2. While the sequel was originally set to be released November 22, 2024, the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes have caused delays in its production. Potentially, the forecasted release date will have to be pushed back, though with over a year still remaining until its schedule release, the sequel has plenty of time to get production back on track.