Ridley Scott compared the performances of Russell Crowe and Paul Mescal in hisGladiatormovies. Crowe played Maximus, a Roman general forced into slavery, in 2000’sGladiator. The original Oscar-winning epic movieearned Crowe a plethora of praise and has been renowned as one of Scott’s best films. Now, Mescal takes over as the lead role inGladiator II. Mescal plays Lucius, the former heir to the Roman Empire and the son of Maximus. In addition to Mescal, thecast ofGladiator IIincludes Pedro Mescal, Joseph Quinn, and Denzel Washington.
In an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Scott revealed thatCrowe and Mescal took different approaches to their Ancient Roman characters. While he did not elaborate much, Scott emphasized that both performances are theatrical, and stressed that Mescal’s theater background is evident in the film. Read his full quote below:
It’s a different direction. They’re both theatrical. Paul is very much a theater actor, that’s his thing. He asked me, ‘You like theater?’ I said, ‘No, I fall asleep.’ He just laughed.
What Ridley Scott’s Crowe-Mescal Comparison Means For Gladiator II
Maximus & Lucius Are Very Different Characters
Based on Ridley Scott’s comments, it is unclear exactly how Mescal’s performance will be different from Crowe’s. However, Mescal revealed that he actually didn’t even contact Crowe for help when he signed on to makeGladiator II. Upon readingthe script forGladiator II,Mescal recognized Lucius as a completely different person than Maximus, which explains why he didn’t contact the Oscar winner. This also emphasizes that Mescal is confident in his own abilities and Scott’s ability to direct him.
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.
While their characters are quite different, Scott describing both Crowe and Mescal’s performances as theatrical makes sense sinceMaximus and Lucius are performing in an arena full of people. Being framed at the center of thousands of people led to many memorable moments for Crowe, such asMaximus' iconic speech inGladiator. Hopefully, Mescal will also have the chance to turn Lucius into an iconic character inGladiator II.
Our Take On Ridley Scott’s Comparison Of Crowe And Mescal
Gladiatoris one of the most popular movies of all time, and by all accounts,Scott had a clear vision when he returned to make the sequel. Therefore, audiences have every reason to be confident that Mescal can match Crowe’s performance in the original film. Mescal is an incredible actor who has already received praise for movies such asAftersunandAll of Us Strangers. Therefore, there is a great chance he will shine as Lucius inGladiator II.
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.
