Ridley Scott's R-Rated Advice to Gladiator II Star on Day One

Ah, the *original Gladiator*—a film that didn’t just redefine the sword-and-sandal genre, but practically reassembled the whole cinematic landscape with a flourish, a clank of metal, and a dramatic gasp from the audience. Following in the footsteps of such monumental success, the pressure of creating a sequel is akin to dangling a gladiator’s sword over your head while trying to hold a delicate soufflé. And enter Ridley Scott, the man who wields both the sword and the soufflé whisk with a certain panache.

Speaking to *Total Film*, Paul Mescal, the newest gladiator on the block, recalls a nugget of wisdom from the esteemed director as filming began for *Gladiator II*. Fresh off his own critical acclaim in *Normal People*, Mescal is set to take the reins in this much-anticipated sequel, playing none other than Lucius, the son of Russell Crowe's Maximus—two decades after the last echoes of steel clashed on screen.

Mescal, that nerve-racked yet brilliantly talented lad, shared how he felt like a fish out of water—or perhaps more accurately, like a gladiator without armor—on his first day of filming. “A couple of hundred to a thousand SAs [supporting artists/extras], fires ablaze, walls of Morocco towering over me… and I thought, ‘Ooh—this is f**king big,’” he recounted with a hint of awe. Yet, in true Scott fashion, the director cut through the tension with a simple, albeit blunt insight: “Your nerves are no f**king good to me.” It’s pure Ridley—gruff yet liberating, leaving Mescal feeling like he could charge into battle, all jitters aside.

Of course, one cannot simply stumble into the shoes of a titan like Russell Crowe. Mescal is acutely aware of the legacy he is stepping into. “I think the legacy he’s left with that first film is extraordinary,” he mused, longing to step away from the shadows of those unfillable shoes. In a fascinating twist, he opted not to revisit the original until New Year’s Day—a wise choice for an actor diving into a “different” character. “Consciously trying to shake off the projections of what people expect,” he justified, embracing the fresh narrative terrain laid out before him.

All eyes are on the upcoming sequel, especially given the massive cult following of the original. The cast is almost entirely new, save for Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi reprising their celebrated roles. This fresh ensemble—which includes the likes of Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Fred Hechinger—marks a brave new chapter in the *Gladiator* saga.

Even Scott himself has weighed in with high praise, declaring, “It’s the best thing I’ve ever made.” Well, at least one of the best, as he candidly added. With such excitement bubbling beneath the surface, Scott is already toying with the idea of *Gladiator III*, likening the conclusion of this sequel to Michael Corleone’s reluctant rise to power—“a man who doesn’t want to be where he is,” he mused. It’s an intriguing thought, provided this film can wrangle enough box office dollars.

Given the reported budget of *Gladiator II* falling between $250 million and $310 million, it might need to slash through the $1 billion mark to truly shine. After all, 2024 has not been a forgiving year for many big-budget contenders—just ask *Furiosa*, *Joker: Folie à Deux*, or *Horizon: An American Saga*. Nevertheless, with Scott at the helm, we can hold onto that flicker of hope that *Gladiator II* might just defy the odds. We’ll find out soon enough; the film hits theaters on November 22, and we can hardly wait.