Paul Mescal has revealed whether he has heard from Russell Crowe since he scored the lead role in the sequel to the famed blockbuster Gladiator.
Russell, 60, famously won an Academy Award for his role as Maximus in Gladiator, which hit screens in 2000 and earned close to half a billion dollars at the box office.
The epic’s long-awaited sequel is hitting screens this month, with Paul, 28, taking on the new leading role of Lucius, who idolised Russell’s champion gladiator in the beloved original.
Russell has previously claimed he had ‘no say’ in Gladiator II and wasn’t consulted on the movie, even admitting he is ‘slightly jealous’ of the new leading man Paul.
Now, Paul has revealed whether he has had any contact with Russell since being cast in the Ridley Scott directed sequel.
During an appearance on Nova 96.9’s Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie, Irish actor Paul said he hasn’t had a phone call from Russell since taking on the role.
‘I didn’t, no,’ he confessed, but said he still hopes to get in touch with the New Zealand actor.
‘I do have this vague fantasy of, like, in a year or two down the line, like having a beer with him in some kind of city somewhere in Europe.’
‘[We would be] just like sit there trading store stories like I would love that.’
Paul Mescal has revealed whether he has heard from Russell Crowe since he scored the lead role in the sequel to the famed blockbuster Gladiator
Russell, 60, famously won an Academy Award for his role as Maximus in Gladiator, which hit screens in 2000 and earned close to half a billion dollars at the box office
Paul said he has seen interviews where Russell has spoken about the sequel, but felt he has been ‘nothing but kind’ towards the upcoming release.
Russell recently weighed in on the long-awaited sequel to the blockbuster that made him a global superstar.
Speaking on the Kyle Meredith with…podcast in June, the Beautiful Mind actor said he feels ‘uncomfortable’ about the new film, which he claimed he had ‘no say in’ because of his character’s tragic death.
‘I’m slightly uncomfortable with the fact they’re making another one — because, of course, I’m ”dead” and I have no say in what gets done,’ Russell joked during the interview.
Shutting down rumours he will be making a cameo appearance in the sequel, Russell also hinted he is not fully support of some story aspects of the new film, which had been leaked.
During an appearance on Nova 96.9’s Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie , Irish actor Paul said he hasn’t had a phone call from Russell since taking on the role
‘A couple of the things I’ve heard I’m like, ”no, no, no, that’s not in the moral journey of that particular character”,’ he said.
‘But I can’t say anything, it’s not my place, I’m ”six foot under”. So we’ll see what that is like.’
He confirmed in May on UK radio that he was not part of the sequel, dashing fans’ hopes of a cameo.
‘I’m sure at some point in time they’ll want to ask me about something, but they haven’t brought anything up in a while,’ he said during an appearance on Virgin Radio UK’s Ryan Tubridy Show.
‘It’s an extension of the narrative, but it is long beyond Maximus’ passing, so it doesn’t really involve me at all.’
However, he went on to describe ‘young fella’ Paul as a ‘good dude’, adding: ‘I wish him the best of luck with it.’
‘I think where they’re picking the story up from, a young Lucius, stepping into the role of emperor. I think that’s a very smart idea within the world of the film that we created,’ he added.
In the new film, Paul takes over the role of Lucius Verus, originally played by Spencer Treat Clark, the grown-up nephew of the late Roman Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix).
Russell has previously claimed he had ‘no say’ in Gladiator II and wasn’t consulted on the movie, even admitting he is ‘slightly jealous’ of the new leading man Paul
Derek Jacobi returns as Senator Gracchus and Connie Nielsen is back as Lucius’ mother Lucilla, who bestows Maximus’ ring to him in the film, set in 200 BCE.
Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal are also featured in the cast of the new film, which is once again being directed by Ridley.
The original Gladiator movie famously amassed $465.4million at the global box office and won five Academy Awards including best picture.
Gladiator II is scheduled for release in Australia on November 14 and in the UK on November 15.
