Paul Mescal Lands Lead Role in 'Gladiator' Sequel from Director Ridley Scott!

A sequel to the Oscar-winning movie Gladiator is in the works and Paul Mescal has landed the lead role in the film!

Ridley Scott will return to direct the sequel to his 2000 movie, which won the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor for Russell Crowe, and three more awards.

Deadline reports that “every male actor in town that fit the profile” chased after the role and that Paul was one of the first to meet with Ridley. He became an early favorite and was the top choice until the end!

Paul will not be playing the same role that Russell played in the first movie.

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Deadline reports that Paul will be “playing Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), who now is a grown man as the story takes place years after the first film ended. Lucius was also the nephew of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), the son of Roman leader Marcus Aurelius who murdered his father seized the throne and wound up in the gladiator ring with Maximus — who, though mortally wounded, skewered the emperor before fading into the great beyond to reunite with his slain wife and son. Maximus saved the boy and his mother while avenging his own family, and left a strong impression on the young Lucius.”

Paul‘s deal is still in negotiations, but it looks like he has landed the part! He’s best known for his work in the Hulu series Normal People and is currently getting Oscar buzz for the movie Aftersun.

Find out why Paul‘s personal life has been making headlines recently.