Paul Mescal wants to star in another ‘Gladiator’ movie
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(Credits: Paramount Pictures)
It has been 24 years since Gladiator was released to instant acclaim, and now the long-awaited sequel recently hit theatres. Playing the lead is Paul Mescal, who has now revealed that he would be up for a third instalment in the franchise.
Gladiator II sees Mescal’s Lucius train to be a gladiator like his late father, Maximus, using his skills to seek revenge on Marcus Acacius and his army, who invade his home. Several stars from the previous film, like Connie Nielson (Lucilla) and Derek Jacobi (Senator Gracchus) appear, while new characters, like Denzel Washington’s Macrinus, Joseph Quinn’s Emperor Geta and Fred Hechinger’s Emperor Caracalla have also been introduced.
Mescal’s performance as Lucius has been widely praised, and it seems like his career is only on the up. He made his screen debut just four years ago in the television series Normal People before quickly racking up roles in some acclaimed movies like The Lost Daughter, Aftersun, which earned him an Oscar nomination, and All of Us Strangers.
The actor has loved working on Gladiator II, and talking to Variety, he revealed that he would be more than happy to appear in a sequel – something director Ridley Scott is interested in making. “Oh yeah, massively down,” Mescal said, adding, “I don’t think it will be [24] years — but I have no idea when it will be.”
Meanwhile, Mescal and Scott have plans to work on another movie together, The Dog Stars. While there are no concrete plans in place just yet, the actor is reportedly in talks to take the leading role.
The verdict on Gladiator II
While Gladiator II may not be a better movie than its predecessor, it has still received widespread praise. It is a huge epic that ticks many boxes, from grandiose action sequences to complex performances.
In a three-and-a-half-star review, Far Out wrote: “The dialogue can be unintentionally comedic, especially and somewhat enjoyably, in moments of utmost gravity. It also lacks the focus of the original. But if you’re looking for spectacle, visceral hand-to-hand combat, and yet another reason to think about the Roman Empire every day, this film delivers, and then some.”
“It dials up every last bit of drama and is occasionally juvenile in its bid for attention. (Those sharks. Those emperors). But it is also a dazzling spectacle that pulls all the right strings. At nearly two-and-a-half hours, it’s the kind of no-holds-barred crowd-pleaser that they just don’t make anymore, a classic summer blockbuster that puts the chilly Oscar-bait of the latter-year movie season to shame.”
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