Gladiator IIdirector Ridley Scott took a candid approach to helping Paul Mescal work through his nerves. Mescal leadsGladiator II’s castin the role of Lucius Verus, the son of the deceased Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe). Prior to working on the sequel, Mescal was already an acclaimed actor who received an Academy Award nomination for his performance in the 2022 movieAftersun. However,Gladiator IIwas the first time that Mescal worked on a major blockbuster studio movie.
While speaking withVanity Fair,Mescal shared how Scott slapped him on the back and told him that"Your nerves are no f**king good to me.“This took place before Mescal filmed one of the sequel’s intense and intricate action scenes. Mescal explained how Scott’s approach helped calm his nerves and enabled him to better focus on and be proud of the performance he delivered inGladiator II. Check out Mescal’s comments below:
I think most of the demons in my head existed in the four weeks after I landed in Morocco, before we started filming. That’s when it was at its peak. And something settled for me when Ridley slapped me in the back and said, “Your nerves are no f**king good to me.” And then he throws me into that scene and then puts me on top of the wall. Your nerves are actually no good to him, but they’re also no good to me. You want to be proud of your work, and especially at the rate that Ridley works at and the speed with which he works at, there’s no dead space. You’re not filming any filler time in the film at any moment; it’s all probably gonna be used.
What This Means For Gladiator II
Ridley Scott And Paul Mescal Developed A True Partnership
Scott is known for being candid, including his criticism thatBlade Runner 2049was far too long and bluntly saying there was no reason for him to consult Crowe when working onGladiator II. When it came to Mescal’s nerves, Scott’s candidness actually helped the actor. Ithelped Mescal reach his full potentialas he adjusted to playing the lead character in a movie on the massive scale ofGladiator II, along with adapting to Scott’s fast-paced directing style.
Gladiator 2’s Maximus & Lucius Relationship Explained
The relationship between Maximus Decimus Meridius and Lucius Verus is one that has undergone some development with the release of Gladiator II.
Since Scott is not one to deliver empty praise,the positive remarks he has made about Mescal’s performance speak volumesabout the actor’s ability to leadGladiator II’s cast. By ensuring that they started on the same page, Scott and Mescal were ultimately able to work well together, which made for a better movie after the long-awaited sequel spent years in development. What Scott and Mescal achieved also helped solidify a strong partnership as they are set to reunite for the upcoming movieThe Dog Stars.
Our Take On Paul Mescal’s Comments
His Partnership With Ridley Scott Elevated Gladiator II
Gladiator II’s reviewsindicate that the sequel is an overall worthy addition to the original movie. The trust and dynamic forged between Scott and Mescal behind the scenes helped make this reality possible.Mescal chose to grow from Scott’s candidnessand this helped him truly become Lucius as the story of Maximus' son and his impact on Ancient Rome is told. Scott and Mescal’s partnership is essential toGladiator II’s success and is set to continue in their future projects together.
Gladiator II
Cast
Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
