(Europa Press). Paul Mescal stars in Gladiator II, the sequel to the iconic film directed by Ridley Scott in 2000 and starring Russell Crowe. Twenty-four years after the success of Gladiator, Scott resurrects the brutal and epic world of the Roman Empire in the film arrives in theaters this Friday, November 15. Working under the direction of Ridley Scott marked Mescal, who does not hesitate to call him “one of the best directors” with whom he has collaborated.“Ridley works incredibly hard. His imagination is endless. Something that is not often talked about is that he usually finishes his films under budget and under schedule, which is an incredible feat,” says the Irish actor in an interview with Europa Press.
The sequel to ‘Gladiator
This long-awaited sequel has generated great expectations among fans of the original film that won Russell Crowe the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The shadow of Gladiator and the legacy of the character of Maximus Decimus Meridius weigh heavily. The pressure of bringing a character to life in a film that left such a profound mark on cinema could have proved overwhelming, but Paul Mescal handled it wisely. “I think there’s always pressure when people like the first movie so much, but when I decided to accept, you have to put the word ‘legacy’ out of your head, because it doesn’t help you when you’re trying to create something new,” he confesses. For the Oscar-nominated actor from Aftersun, the key was to approach Lucio from a fresh perspective, free from the burden of expectations and focus on building an authentic and powerful character, without trying to emulate Crowe’s greatness in his portrayal of Maximo.
Power, intrigue and revenge
Gladiator II continues the epic of power, intrigue and revenge set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the admired hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced into the Colosseum after witnessing the conquest of his home by the tyrannical emperors who rule Rome with an iron fist. With a heart overflowing with fury and the future of the empire at stake, Lucius must reminisce about his past in search of the strength and honor that will restore Rome’s lost glory to the people. Mescal says the mental part was the biggest challenge in his preparation for the role of Lucius: “The physical part just requires attention and concentration. The mental preparation is always the most complicated. It’s something you never quite understand. It’s like a never-ending rope.” Lucio, now a young man full of conflicts, must deal with deep pain, an emotional burden that in the film becomes a destructive force. “That pain is what gives him the anger he needs to tear Rome apart,” he reveals. The powerful cast of ‘Gladiator II’ is another of the sequel’s big attractions. With the likes of Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, among others, Mescal says sharing scenes with them was inspiring. “Look at that cast. I think any actor who has worked with Denzel will say it’s the most extraordinary experience. You just hope for the best, because he’s a colossus in the acting world. All of them… Pedro, Connie, Joe, Fred, everybody gave it their all and gave it their all. So I’m deeply proud of everyone involved in the film,” he concludes.
