Paul Mescal's Life Will Be 'Ruined' If Gladiator 2 Succeeds

Berfin Ceren Meray
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The iconic film 'Gladiator' catapulted Russell Crowe to global stardom, earning him an Academy Award for Best Actor. Now, as talks of 'Gladiator 2' gaining immense success circulate, all eyes are on the potential new lead, Paul Mescal. However, Mescal himself claims that this level of fame might push his life to the brink of destruction. Delve into the details below to uncover the intriguing dynamics surrounding the speculated success of 'Gladiator 2' and its potential impact on Paul Mescal's life.

Countdown has begun for "Gladiator 2," starring Paul Mescal.

With roles in 'Normal People,' 'Aftersun,' 'All of Us Strangers,' and more, Oscar-nominated actor Paul Mescal already boasts a dedicated fan base. However, the upcoming release of Ridley Scott's 'Gladiator 2' this fall, featuring Mescal in the lead role, alongside a stellar supporting cast including Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington, is expected to propel his fame to new heights.

Mescal fears the potential consequences of the film's success.

In a recent interview with The Times UK, Mescal expressed concerns about the possibility of his fame skyrocketing with the sequel. He stated, 'I don't know what the difference will be. Maybe it's just more people stopping you on the street? If so, I will get deeply depressed, and I hope that's not the case. I'll get my answer next year, but if [the film] affects my life this way, it will be a bad place.'

Mescal criticizes the reduction of acting to social media metrics.

Speaking to the press, Mescal emphasized that acting should not be reduced to Instagram followers. He stated, 'I take acting very seriously,' expressing surprise that social media metrics might influence casting decisions. Mescal added, 'For the last few years, people have been talking about content from films and series. It's a disgusting word. This is not 'content'; this is damn hard work. I'm not being arrogant, but there are two simultaneous industries. One works without care and artistic integrity. Go crazy, do something with Instagram followers, whatever... But the other is the craft of filmmaking, directing, lighting, and production design. These keep artists alive. Audiences want challenges.'

Mescal addresses not contacting Russell Crowe about "Gladiator."

Last year, in an interview with Esquire UK before the SAG-AFTRA strike, Mescal stated that he hadn't met with Russell Crowe about the 'Gladiator' sequel. This was because the story did not involve Maximus, played by Crowe, who died at the end of the original film. In 'Gladiator 2,' Mescal plays Lucius, the nephew of Commodus (portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix in the original).

Mescal stated about not reaching out to Crowe, 'I don't know what we would talk about. I'd love to hear stories about filming, but the character is entirely separate.'

Crowe admits to feeling jealous but urges people not to ask him about the sequel.

It appears that Crowe never expected Mescal to reach out to him. Crowe revealed that neither Ridley Scott nor anyone associated with 'Gladiator 2' had contacted him because the sequel has no connection to the character he portrayed in the 2000 original film. Crowe even called on the press to stop asking him questions about the sequel during the Karlovy Film Festival in July.

Crowe confessed, 'They should pay me to answer questions about a movie I'm not even in. It has nothing to do with me. I'm dead in that world. Six feet under. But I must admit I feel a bit jealous because it reminds me of my youth and what it meant to me in my life.'