Paul Mescal HAS NOT spoken to Russell Crowe about Gladiator 2 role

Paul Mescal has become one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood following a string of impressive performances in movies like The Lost Daughter, Aftersun and God's Creatures.

His biggest role will be the one he is currently working on, though, as he will lead the cast for the hugely anticipated sequel to Ridley Scott's Gladiator.

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The original is recognised as one of the best movies of the noughties well as a hit commercially. It won five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe.

It told the story of Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman general betrayed by Emperor Commodus following the death of previous Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Maximus survives an assassination attempt and is eventually sold into slavery before becoming a Gladiator inside the Roman Colosseum.

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A sequel was confirmed in 2022, with Mescal in the lead role. The belief is that Gladiator 2 will focus on the character of Lucius from the first movie. The son of Lucilla and nephew of Commodus, he struck a bond with Maximus, who may or may not be his father.

Despite both men leading the respective movies, Mescal hasn't yet spoken to Crowe about the franchise.

"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," Mescal told Esquire.

"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.”

Gladiator 2 will star Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington and Connie Nielsen.

Russell Crowe not involved in Gladiator sequel

At the conclusion of Gladiator, Maximus loses his life after a fight with Emperor Commodus, so it is tough to see how Crowe would return for the sequel unless it was a flashback or dream sequence.

The actor has confirmed that he likely won't be involved.

"I'm sure at some point in time they'll want to ask me about something, but they haven't brought anything up in a while," he previously told RTE Radio One.

"It's an extension of the narrative, but it is long beyond Maximus' passing, so it doesn't really involve me at all.

"I hear that young fella Paul is a good dude and I wish him the best of luck with it. I think where they're picking the story up from, a young Lucius, stepping into the role of emperor. I think that's a very smart idea within the world of the film that we created."