Paul Mescal is ready for battle in “Gladiator II.”
Mescal leads Ridley Scott‘s highly-anticipated epic sequel, with the actor playing Lucius, the nephew of since-deceased Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) who was killed by Russell Crowe’s Maximus. “Gladiator 2” is set 20 years after the events of the first film, with the estimated era for the sequel being 200 A.D.
Mescal’s Lucius is the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and grandson of Marcus Aurelius, and originally played by Spencer Treat Clark in the 2000 feature. The character idolized Maximus. Oscar winner Crowe who played the character confirmed he is not part of the sequel since Maximus died in the original movie.
“Stranger Things” star Joseph Quinn plays the new Caesar deciding the fate of the warriors, while Pedro Pascal is a general and Denzel Washington is a power broker. A teaser of the film’s footage screened at CinemaCon. Mescal was shown as a slave battling primates in games inside the Colosseum. Mescal also goes up against Pascal onscreen.
Mescal, who previously admitted that he was “stressed” about leading the sequel, recently told Vanity Fair that the feature really is about the lengths society will go to to be immortal.
“What human beings will do to survive, but also what human beings will do to win,” Mescal said. “We see that in the arena, but also in the political struggle that’s going on outside of my character’s storyline, where you see there’s other characters striving and pulling for power. Where’s the space for humanity? Where’s the space for love, familial connection? And ultimately, will those things overcome this kind of greed and power? Those things are oftentimes directly in conflict with each other.”
Mescal continued of his character specifically, “It’s very ‘angry young man’ drama in that sense. He can see the way Rome has kind of fallen in on itself. Rome represents all the personal neglect that he felt as a child. Suddenly he’s thrust back into that world and has direct proximity to all of the things that he thinks he hates and doesn’t feel attached to anymore.”
Scott teased that the film is “pretty gnarly” both in its action scenes and historical context.
The Paramount Pictures sequel is written by Scott’s “Napoleon” screenwriter David Scarpa. Original “Gladiator” collaborators, costume designer Janty Yates and production designer Arthur Max, are returning along with director-producer Scott. Scott Free President Michael Pruss, plus Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher via Red Wagon Entertainment, are also producing.
Director Scott recreated the original film’s sets in Malta in the exact same spot where they shot the first feature. According to actor Quinn, Scott would film with eight cameras at once for just a single scene. Quinn told IndieWire that working with auteur Scott was “life affirming, amazing, and beyond anything I could’ve imagined.”
“Gladiator 2” premieres November 22 in theaters. Check out the first look photos below.
