‘Gladiator 2’ Could Completely Change Paul Mescal’s Career

Whenever a talented young actor hits the scene, all eyes are fixed on whatever they will do next. That has been the case for Paul Mescal, the 28-year-old Irish actor who has accomplished so much in a relatively short time. All before the age of 30, he has found himself nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award, BAFTA TV and Film Awards (going on to win the TV honor), and an Academy Award, and based on the interviews he has given, he seems to lean towards doing work on the stage and indie psychological dramas that allow him to dig deep as an actor.

He doesn’t seem to need to be a big movie star, but he has found himself in that position leading Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, the filmmaker’s sword-and-sandals sequel to his signature Oscar-winning hit. This is by far the biggest movie Mescal has been a part of in terms of scope, and it’s bound to be a huge global hit. It’s the kind of box office performer that could lead to more opportunities of this kind for the young actor. It presents an interesting crossroads for Mescal. Does he still maintain his acting-driven stage and indie sensibilities? Or does he begin to find himself in more big-budget fare because of Hollywood’s push to guide him in that direction?

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Paul Mescal Gained His First Recognition in the Miniseries ‘Normal People’

Mescal’s road to more widespread recognition came when he landed his first television role in the drama miniseries Normal People. The actor portrayed Connell Waldron opposite Daisy Edgar-Jones’ Marianne Sheridan, another performer currently experiencing her own mainstream shift following starring in the summer blockbuster sequel Twisters. Normal People put Mescal on the map, so to speak, although not in a way that would ruin his ability to fly under the radar.

His performance in the miniseries was lauded by critics, earning him nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie and the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries while securing a win for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor.

Feature films were inevitable, and he found himself drawn to material that was more intimate, much like the work on stage that had become his passion. He made his big screen debut with a supporting role in the Maggie Gyllenhaal-directed psychological drama The Lost Daughter. The film earned solid reviews from critics and set the tone for the projects that Mescal seemed to seek out, with his following two roles coming in 2022’s God’s Creatures, where he portrayed a man accused of sexual assault, and the tremendous Aftersun, a film that allowed Mescal to play a troubled young father, a role that would be a pivotal moment of his career.

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As Calum, Mescal brought depth and maturity to a seemingly quiet role, selling so many emotions without needing to go over the top to emote them. It’s equally painful and moving, the kind of performance that sneaks up on you. Critics took notice, and soon he was the longshot talk of awards season, with many thinking he could pull off an Academy Award nomination, while others thought the reach of the film, which only grossed $9.7 million during its entire run, would be too minimal to gain notice. The former thinking was correct, as Mescal secured an Oscar nomination for his performance. Although he didn’t win, for someone at this stage of his career, the nomination is enough to put him in the sights of any director looking to cast young and emerging talent.

After earning more raves in 2022’s Carmen and even more so in the 2023 film All of Us Strangers opposite Andrew Scott (a role that earned the young actor another BAFTA Award nomination), Mescal found himself up for a role in Scott’s Gladiator II, taking over the part played by Spencer Treat Clark as a child in the 2000 historical drama. The actor’s performance in Normal People made Scott believe he was perfect for the role of Lucius, even comparing him to Russell Crowe, who won an Academy Award for his performance in the sequel’s predecessor.

Having seen Gladiator II, it’s a performance that appeals to Mescal’s abilities as an actor. There is a quiet intensity to his work, which Denzel Washington’s Macrinus comments about regarding Lucius in the film, detailing that this rage drives him, buried deep down in his soul. The role also allows for bigger moments that showcase Mescal’s fire as a performer, and, in many ways, it’s similar to Crowe’s Oscar-winning turn. It’s the kind of performance that feels subdued until the audience realizes all the things he’s not saying and how powerful it actually is.

‘Gladiator II’ Is the Biggest Film of Paul Mescal’s Career

The difference between this role and film, compared to the others he has starred in, is that he’s leading a big-budget tentpole release, a film with a summer movie budget (a reported $250 million) that happens to be released in November. If his previous films earned him notice from critics and the indie niche audience, Gladiator II would give him a level of fame associated with most actors who drive big studio films on a global level. Keep in mind, Gladiator played a significant role in elevating Crowe’s fame to a whole new level, something that could very well happen to Mescal and something that he’s aware of.

“I don’t know what the difference will be. 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 [the film] 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.”

There seems to be a push by the industry to turn actors into celebrities. So many performers honestly get into the profession for the love of the craft, but once they’re a part of their first box office hit, the trajectory of the roles and films they pick can change if they aren’t careful. Some actors don’t want to be movie stars, some just have a passion for the work and that’s enough for them.

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Mescal is at an age where, after Gladiator II becomes the hit it’s destined to be, he will be in a position to go either way. He’ll still be offered roles in indie-based dramas, and his love of the stage will still be in his heart, something he spoke of frequently with his Gladiator II co-star Washington, who has bounced back and forth between films and roles on stage. Also, the Washington seal of approval is likely better than any big studio film he could get, with the veteran actor pointing to Mescal’s love for the work by saying (via GQ), “He knows what he’s doing. It’s easy to work off of him because he’s giving you something. There’s a quiet dignity and a strength and intelligence that he has, even just when he’s standing there.”

He’ll also no doubt be offered more popcorn entertainment fare, especially if the studio believes his presence can guarantee box office success. It’s just the nature of the business. As Gladiator II sails through its opening weekend and into the lucrative Thanksgiving holiday frame, the studios will watch its performance and likely think about what tentpole they can get Mescal to lead. Instincts suggest that the actor won’t just start doing mainstream fare and will likely turn much of it down.

He appears to be an artist first, but there will be pressure to turn him into the next big thing, something embraced by actors like Glen Powell (not an insult by any means; one also calls this the Tom Cruise school of successfully playing the Hollywood game). Mescal’s sensibilities lean toward more character-actor-driven work, although he also has the looks and screen presence of someone who could be a big star on a much more elevated level. Judging from this recent quote, Mescal seems grounded when it comes to the work and his love of it, indicating that he won’t choose roles merely to achieve a new level of fame.

“Over the last few years people have been talking about films and TV shows as content. That’s a filthy word. It’s not ‘content’, it’s f*****g work. I’m not being snobby, but there are two concurrent industries. One that works with a lack of care and artistic integrity. Go nuts, make stuff with Instagram followers as a factor, whatever … But the other is what’s always been there, the craft of film-making, directing, lighting and production design. That keeps artists alive. And audiences want to be challenged.”

By maintaining this integrity, Mescal’s arrival into the big leagues with Gladiator II won’t change how he navigates his career. His next few projects feel far removed from what he has done with the recently released historical epic, with the romantic drama The History of Sound with Josh O’Connor on deck, as well as portraying William Shakespeare in Chloé Zhao’s historical drama Hamnet. If anything, the perk of having Gladiator II under his sleeve will be that he’ll continue to have the choice of pursuing projects that continue to inspire him. Gladiator II is in theaters now.