Behind the Scenes of Gladiator 2: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and the Star-Studded Cast
The Gladiator 2 cast has been promoting the highly awaited sequel. Paul Mescal shared his excitement about joining the franchise, and Denzel Washington shared funny Oscar moments. Gladiator 2 is becoming one of the most talked-about films of the year. Here’s what they’ve been saying on their tour, but first, check out https://sports.woocasino.com/en-AU.
Paul Mescal’s Excitement for Gladiator 2
Irish actor Paul Mescal shared his experience of promoting Gladiator 2. The celebrity said it was exciting to work on an action film where he could show his acting range. He did, however, note that it was very different from the sets of both films Aftersun and All of Us Strangers.
Denzel Washington’s Oscar Moment and Family Memories
Denzel Washington also revealed a funny moment when his mother embarrassed him at the 1990 Oscars. He appeared on The One Show with Mescal and Connie Nielsen to talk about Gladiator 2. Mescal, when asked about bringing his family to the London premiere, said it was a special experience, with many of his relatives attending. He mentioned that having family around during such big moments made the experience even more meaningful.
Washington shared a memory of taking his mother to the Oscars, recalling how she commented on the behavior of others while sitting in the front row. He laughed and told her to be quiet when she said:
“Look at how he’s treating her.”
Mescal talked about his excitement when Ridley Scott called him for the Gladiator sequel. He said:
It was absolutely mind-blowing. Just the fact I got to have a Zoom with him felt like a victory. Then he decided I was the guy.
Gladiator 2 Casting and Pre-Production
In January 2023, Paul Mescal was cast as the adult Lucius in Gladiator II. Director Ridley Scott discovered Mescal through his performance in the miniseries Normal People and cast him after a brief Zoom call.
Mescal, a fan of the original film, was told about the sequel by Lucy Fisher and Douglas Wick, who also highlighted his athletic background. Scott was impressed by his physical resemblance to Richard Harris, who played Marcus Aurelius in the original. Mescal prepared for the role by training physically, gaining muscle, and studying Roman history. He also practiced fighting, horse riding, and swordplay.
In March 2023, Barry Keoghan was in talks to play Emperor Caracalla. Denzel Washington soon joined the cast, eager to work with director Ridley Scott again after their past collaboration on American Gangster (2007). John Mathieson returned as cinematographer. In April 2023, it was confirmed that Connie Nielsen and Djimon Hounsou are returning to play Lucilla and Juba, respectively. Meanwhile, Joseph Quinn joined as Emperor Geta.
The cast grew in May with the inclusion of Pedro Pascal, May Calamawy, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Peter Mensah, and Matt Lucas. Fred Hechinger was also set to play Caracalla after Keoghan left due to scheduling issues. Jacobi returned as Senator Gracchus. Pascal trained as a gladiator for his role, calling it the most exciting experience of his career. Due to scheduling conflicts, Hounsou and Calamawy both exited in December, with Yuval Gonen stepping in for Calamawy.
