The sequel to Gladiator is a reality now. With Ridley Scott returning to helm the Gladiator 2, Paul Mescal is trying to get into the best shape of his life to take on the leading role of the movie. Mescal will be the lead character in the sequel, unlike Maximus in the previous one, which was played by Russell Crowe.
Despite the fact that he has never spoken to the original star about the sequel, Mescal recently revealed in an interview with Esquire that the movie will pay homage to the original film.
Paul Mescal Hasn’t Spoken to Russell Crowe about Sequel and He Won’t in the Future
How Russell Crowe played the lead in Gladiator is something outstanding. And when someone new comes to fill the shoe, it’s a natural thought that he would be so excited to talk and get some notion about the movie. But Paul Mescal is thinking something else on whether he would have any conversation with Russell Crowe or not.
In an interview with Esquire prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike, Mescal said, “I don’t know what we would talk about.”
“Like, I’d love to hear his stories from filming, but the character is, like, totally separate,” he continued.
“I can’t tell you how stressed I am talking about that film in particular, because it’s definitely the biggest one I’ve done. I feel really excited, but, like, it’s difficult to get away from the legacy of the film a bit. I think it’s really well written and it pays homage to the first one, but it’s very much something that I think I can step into and make comfortably my own,” added the The Normal People star.
Currently, the filming for the film has been halted due to the strikes, though about half of the filming has already been completed by Ridley Scott, but since June it has made no progress.
Tom Holland Regrets the Same Mistake that Paul Mescal is Making
With his 2017 Spider-Man debut, Tom Holland replaced Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man. Holland also said he regrets not talking to previous Spider-Man actor Andrew Garfield before he assumed the role.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter regarding his Spider-Man adventure in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Holland expressed regret over not seeking Andrew Garfield’s blessing first. Holland regretted not telling Garfield he would be taking over from him.
“That’s because of my naivete as a kid. I was 19 when I got cast. I was so caught up in getting the role that I never took any time to think about what it must have been like for him. If I’d made my second movie and it didn’t necessarily deliver in the way it should have done and they recast me, I would really struggle to bounce back. Andrew bounced back in the most unbelievable way. I just wish I’d called him and just said, ‘You know I can’t turn down this opportunity.'”
That concern by Holland for Garfield was pleasing to the fans. Will Mescal regret it later the same way Holland did?
Source: Esquire