The one thing that Paul Mescal is DREADING about starring in Gladiator 2

Paul Mescal is one of Hollywood's new young guns and is well on his way to becoming an A-lister.

Over the last few years, Mescal has put himself on the map with acclaimed performances in dramas like Aftersun, God's Creatures, The Lost Daughter and All of Us Strangers.

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His biggest role will be his next one, though, as he will star in Ridley Scott's sequel to Gladiator, which has recommenced filming after the actor and writer strikes.

Mescal is in the lead role of Lucius. The son of Lucilla and nephew of Commodus, he struck a bond with Maximus in the first movie, who may or may not be his father.

Plot details on Gladiator 2 are thin, but Ridley Scott has provided some more background on where Lucius is at in his life.

“Paul is playing Lucius... That’s someone who was 12, and this is about 12, 15 years later," Scott previously told Rotten Tomatoes.

"He’s been out in the wilderness having lost touch with his mother. Mother lost touch with him, doesn’t know where he is. She thinks he might be dead.”

Mescal isn't interested in fame

Starring in such a high-profile movie will likely catapult Mescal onto a new level of fame - something which he certainly isn't looking forward to.

“I don’t know what the difference will be,” Mescal told The Sunday Times.

“Maybe that’s naive? Is it just that more people will stop you in the street? I’d get profoundly depressed if that’s so and hope it isn’t true. I’ll have an answer next year, but if it impacts my life in that way, I’ll be in a bad spot. I’d have to move on and do an obtuse play nobody wants to see.”

The actor added that he would “just get too f***ing bored” living life hidden away, and that he doesn't want to stop “going out or meeting someone in a bar or getting drunk at a party”.

Gladiator 2 co-stars Connie Nielsen, Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal.