Gladiator IIdirector Ridley Scott made a last-minute decision to let Paul Mescal perform an intensive stunt. Mescal, who plays Lucius Verus, the son of Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) and Lucilla (Connie Nielsen),underwent extensive physical training to fully prepare himself to leadGladiator II’s cast. The sequel features a great deal of action spectacle as Lucius battles other gladiators, General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal), and ferocious animals in the Colosseum.
While speaking withVariety,Scott and Mescal discussed how the actor ended up performing a complex stunt during the movie’s climax. The sequence involves Lucius riding a horse as he chases Macrinus (Denzel Washington) and Mescal"trained for f—king months"to pull it off. However, Scott changed his mind about Mescal performing the stunt because of what happened to actor Keith Carradine during a similar stunt in Scott’s feature film directorial debut,The Duellists.Despite his concerns,Scott eventually relented and let Mescal do it. Read Scott and Mescal’s comments below:
Paul Mescal: Two weeks before the scene, Ridley says, “You’re not f—king doing it,” and I was like, “What the f—k?,” and we had this argument.
Ridley Scott: And at the end of [The Duellists] shoot, for the very last shot, Keith [Carradine] goes, “Can I go ride this bloody horse then?” Twenty minutes later, the horse ran him into a tree and he smashed his femur.
Mescal: I was pestering him constantly. And then the day before, he goes, “OK, you may do the stunt, but if you come off, it’s two Bentleys.” No Bentleys were required, thank f—k.
What This Means For Gladiator II
Paul Mescal And Ridley Scott Are A Strong Team
The physicality that Mescal brings to Lucius not only gives him the appearance of a formidable soldier and gladiator but also contributes to creating the sequel’s thrilling action. As Lucius clashes with many ofGladiator II’s characters, it needs to appear convincing that he is an unparalleled warrior who can defeat the best fighters in Ancient Rome, even General Acacius, who trained under Lucius' father.Mescal’s blend of acting, stunt work, and physical prowess will be on displayin the Colosseum, and during the climactic chase of Macrinus.
Gladiator 2 Reviews Explained: Biggest Takeaways, RT Score & How They Compare To The Original Movie
Critics have begun revealing their thoughts about Gladiator 2, complete with comparisons, key takeouts, and a healthy Rotten Tomatoes score.
In terms of behind-the-scenes impact,Scott’s ultimate decision demonstrates the trust he has in his actors and in Mescal specifically. The partnership they forged proved strong as they are already slated to reunite in the upcoming movieThe Dog Stars. Now that Mescal has proven his ability to perform difficult stunts, Scott can have the confidence in Mescal to continue doing this when necessary inThe Dog Stars, and in any other potential projects that they will work on together in the future.
Our Take On Paul Mescal & Ridley Scott’s Comments
They Tease An Intriguing Ending To The Sequel
The ambitious and creative drive that both Mescal and Scott have makes them a strong team. The originalGladiator’s endingis deeply satisfying, butMescal and Scott’s comments tease an equally thrilling ending for the sequelas Lucius' battles go beyond the Colosseum, and involve pursuing Macrinus despite their alliance earlier in the story.Gladiator II’s action sequences are poised to be even more impressive than the first movie as they build to a memorable conclusion.
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.
