Gladiator II star Paul Mescal explains Ridley Scott’s unique directing style. Scott, who also directed the original Gladiator released in 2000, he returned to direct the long-awaited sequel which follows the journey of Lucius Verus (Mescal). In the next installment of the franchise’s historic, action-packed spectacle, Gladiator IIThe star-studded cast also includes Denzel Washington as Macrinus, Pedro Pascal as General Marcus Acacius and Connie Nielsen reprising her role from the previous film as Lucius’ mother Lucilla.
When speaking with Screen speech, Mescal discussed how Scott’s fast-paced style is different from any other director he’s worked with before. He compared Scott’s directing style to the nature of playing sports and joked how it influenced his performance as Lucius. Mescal also acknowledged how Scott has rightfully become a legend in the entertainment industry, which contributed to Mescal delivering a performance unlike anything he had achieved thus far in his career. Check out Mescal’s comments below:
I’ve never worked with anyone like him in terms of style. It’s super fast. It’s like it was when I played sports. It’s different, you’re exercising different muscles, and I think as a result, anyone who has seen any of my work that preceded this, it’s a very different performance as a result, which is of course because it’s a different style of directing, and he is, as you said, a legend and will be remembered as such.
What this means for Gladiator II
Paul Mescal’s performance in the sequel will be truly distinctive
Before Gladiator IIMescal was already an accomplished actor, including his Oscar-nominated performance in After-sun. As impressive as his career has been, Mescal has now apparently taken his acting to new heights while he leads the cast of Gladiator II. Lucius is the most physically demanding and fast-paced role Mescal has ever played, which will reveal different sides of the actor’s talent in portraying Lucius’ journey.
Given how crucial Russell Crowe’s lead performance was to the success of the original film GladiatorIt’s fitting that Mescal is following in his footsteps with his distinctive portrayal of Lucius. Whether it’s an action sequence in the Colosseum, a tense interaction with Macrinus, a thrilling duel with General Acacius, or a moving reunion with Lucilla, Mescal will excel at bringing all of these parts of Lucius’ story to life. Working with Scott brought new dimensions to his performing skills this will do Gladiator II even more compelling to watch.
They’re a reminder of why Ridley Scott is a legendary director
Scott remains one of the most exciting and versatile directors in the entertainment industry. Mescal recognizes that the performance Scott helped achieve is something truly special. Considering the original GladiatorDespite the perfect ending, there has been skepticism about the need for a sequel, especially more than two decades after the first film’s release. Mescal’s teasing of his performance and Scott’s directing style are promising indicators that, despite skepticism, Gladiator II will prove to be a worthy sequel to its predecessor.