As a seasoned movie enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the celluloid world, I must say that Paul Mescal‘s journey into the grandeur of Ancient Rome for ‘Gladiator II’ is nothing short of captivating. His transformation from the tender-hearted, introspective characters of ‘Normal People’ and ‘Aftersun’ to a fierce gladiator is not just a shift in genre, but a leap into the unknown.
A valuable piece of advice for up-and-coming actors: Avoid clashing with director Ridley Scott when he’s working on a film, as Paul Mescal discovered the difficult way on the first day of filming Gladiator II. In this sequel, Mescal portrays Lucius, the son of Maximus Decimus Meridius (as revealed in the most recent trailer), who is seized by the Roman army and compelled to battle in the Colosseum – a plot that might seem somewhat familiar. Before landing the role of an ancient warrior, Mescal was recognized for moving audiences with emotional dramas like Normal People and Aftersun. Ridley Scott didn’t allow Mescal any moment to let his apprehension grow during production when it came to stepping back in time to Ancient Rome.
In an interview for Total Film’s last print issue, Paul Mescal reminisced about his initial encounter with Ridley Scott on the set of “Gladiator II.” He shared a motivational and characteristically profound piece of advice that the renowned director imparted upon him. “On my very first day,” said the actor, “I was struck by the sight of hundreds to thousands of supporting artists, flames ablaze, and the Moroccan landscape before me. I thought, ‘Wow – this is truly grand.’
In a contrast to his reserved nature off-screen, Mescal admitted that he found the grandeur of “Gladiator II”‘s filming process truly overpowering. However, Ridley Scott stepped in with a mix of guidance and caution, addressing Mescal’s apprehensions about handling his nerves.
However, prior to filming, Ridley made it clear by saying, “Your nerves are of no use to me.” This phrase encapsulates Ridley’s character perfectly, and it’s incredibly fitting because it carries a liberating message. Indeed, he is correct.
Paul Mescal Refused to Study the Original Gladiator
Instead of diving deep into studying Gladiator extensively before taking on a sequel role from one of the 2000s’ beloved action movies, Paul Mescal chose not to dissect Russell Crowe’s iconic portrayal of Maximus Decimus Meridius. The reason behind this was that his character would be an entirely new entity. He had watched Gladiator and appreciated Crowe’s performance, admiring the impact Crowe made in the first film. Mescal explained that he wanted to avoid being influenced by people’s preconceived notions about what the sequel might represent. Instead, he was “actively trying to clear my mind of any expectations about this film and its meaning.
Filling the role of Maximus Decimus Meridius’ son, one of the most famous and memorable movie heroes in contemporary cinema, is a task that requires shoes (or sandals) of considerable size. Reminiscent of his initial apprehension, Mescal chose not to dissect the first film too closely as Lucius finds himself alienated from Maximus, portraying him in the film’s initial trailer as an iconic gladiator, oblivious to the fact that he is actually his father. Mescal expressed this by saying:
After being cast, I didn’t catch the show. However, I enjoyed watching it with my friends on New Year’s Day – it was fantastic! As for this particular role, there isn’t much advantage in studying it because it’s a distinct character.
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2024-10-07 20:01