Gladiator II star Paul Mescal reveals why he didn’t consult Russell Crowe for advice when taking on the role of Lucius. Though Maximus (Crowe) died at the end of Gladiator (2000), his legacy is set to live on in director Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2, which follows his son, Lucius, as he becomes a fighter in the Colosseum. The 2000 sword-and-sandal epic remains one of Scott’s most beloved films, and one of Crowe’s, and the star ultimately walked away with the Oscar for Best Actor.

During a recent interview with Extra, Mescal reveals that he did not reach out to Crowe prior to taking on the role of Lucius in Gladiator 2. According to the actor, his character was a rather different beast, and, at the end of the day, getting Lucius right falls on his shoulders. That doesn’t mean, however, that he wouldn’t be interested in talking with Crowe about another subject. Read Mescal’s comment below:

Paul Mescal: “You know what, I didn’t think about that bit until now. When I read the script I was like, ‘Oh, Lucius is a different entity .’ I think what I would love to discuss with Russell is the trade war stories having completed things that are…we’ve gone through similar experiences with it. But I felt confident in having Ridley at the helm and the way I work as an actor… because ultimately, I have to stand behind this entirely by myself. There’s no excuses. You can’t rely on anybody beyond the script and the director and yourself. So you’ve got to become an island unto yourself I think.”

Scott chimes in on the matter, too, using two James Bond actors as an example of why Mescal shouldn’t feel obligated to reach out to his predecessor:

Ridley Scott: “I want to add to that. Why would Roger Moore call up Sean Connery and say, ‘I’m about to do…’ What is he going to do that for? It’s a silly question.

What Crowe’s Lack Of Involvement Means For Gladiator 2

Crowe Was A Major Reason For Gladiator’s Success

As Mescal says, Lucius is being positioned as a different character to Maximus with a different personality and a unique journey. However, there are many clear similarities, and the fact that Lucius is Maximus’ son further cements the film as a continuation of the story from Gladiator‘s emotional ending. What’s more, trailers have revealed that Lucius eventually comes to wear Maximus’ armor, and he also has a similar habit of feeling the Colosseum dirt in his hands prior to a fight.

It wouldn’t make sense to have Crowe himself too involved in Gladiator 2‘s story given Maximus’ death, but it’s important to note that he was crucial to the original movie’s success. The role was a defining one for Crowe’s career, and, in addition to winning Best Picture, the movie was a box office success, grossing $465 million worldwide. Mescal is relatively untested as an action star and has mostly worked in the indie movie space, and his star power and charisma will ultimately decide whether Lucius emerges as a worthy successor to Maximus.

In a 2023 interview , Crowe admitted that seeing and hearing about Gladiator 2 made him somewhat jealous. ” I admit to a certain tinge of jealousy ,” he says, ” because it reminds me not only of my youth, but of what that meant for me in my life .”

Our Take On Mescal Not Reaching Out To Crowe For Gladiator 2

There’s Pressure On Mescal To Succeed

It’s not entirely surprising that Mescal hasn’t touched base with Crowe. The two actors, after all, play different characters, and it’s now been 24 years since the original film was released. Though Maximus’ legacy plays a large role in Gladiator 2‘s story, Crowe, as an actor, has essentially nothing to do with the project.

What Mescal’s comment does reveal, however, is that he didn’t take his role in the Gladiator 2 cast lightly, and he’s aware of the pressure on him to succeed as a leading man. Plus, Scott himself thinking that there’s no need for the two actors to communicate certainly counts for something. It will be hard to recapture the magic of Maximus’ story in the original movie, and Mescal evidently has big shoes to fill in Gladiator 2.