Paul Mescal's Fame Battle

As excitement builds for the release of Gladiator II, Paul Mescal is sharing his approach to staying grounded amid rising fame. The Normal People actor, now 28, steps into the role of Lucius Verus— a character captured by the Roman army and thrust into the unforgiving life of a gladiator in Ridley Scott's much-anticipated sequel. Mescal joins a star-studded cast including Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Derek Jacobi, and Joseph Quinn, promising a powerful return to the epic world of ancient Rome.

In a recent interview, Mescal candidly discussed how the release of the film may bring unexpected challenges. "Maybe that’s naive?" he told The Times. "Is it just that more people will stop you in the street? I’d get profoundly depressed if that’s so."

Mescal, who also received acclaim for his role in Aftersun, mentioned he’s prepared to take drastic measures if the fame becomes overwhelming. “If the film impacts my life in that way I’ll be in a bad spot,” he said, half-joking that he might turn to an obscure theater play “nobody wants to see” to escape the limelight.

Reflecting on the grueling training regimen required for Gladiator II, Mescal described how his trainer approached him “like a shark,” ready to transform him physically for the role. Although he adhered to an intense diet and workout routine, he held his ground on a few personal habits, noting he “drew a line in the sand” when asked to quit drinking and smoking.

Set more than 20 years after the original Gladiator which starred Russell Crowe as Maximus Mescal portrays Maximus’ son in the sequel. Interestingly, Mescal did not have the opportunity to connect with Crowe about their shared lineage on screen.

Early reactions from critics following the film’s Los Angeles premiere hint at potential Oscar buzz for Denzel Washington, who plays a powerful arms dealer named Macrinus. Gladiator II is set to release on November 15 in the UK and November 22 in the US, bringing an epic story of revenge and survival back to the big screen.