Paul Mescal, who catapulted to fame with Normal People, is now fronting Gladiator II, the sequel which has arrived in cinemas over 24 years after its Oscar-winning original. Amid this, the lead appeared in Sean Evans’ popular Hot Ones interview where he reflected on his weird equation with the audience.
“It’s just a weird thing because ultimately I don’t know you, you don’t know me, but we know a lot about each other because we’re visible the whole time. And I think audiences sometimes misconstrue the characters that I play versus who I am,” said Mescal. The 28-year-old also added that he doesn’t care about public opinion and refuses to bend his ways owing to pressure.
“I mean this with the greatest sincerity and kindness, but I don’t really care what people want me to do because I think the minute you start catering to an audience you’re ultimately beginning to do them a disservice. Because I’ve never considered it before and if it’s working at the moment, which I hopefully feel like it is, then I want to keep doing that until it starts going downhill,” he said.
The plot of Gladiator II follows the life of Lucius aka Hanno, the son of Maximus who lives in the northern African Numidia, just outside the reach of the Roman Empire, until unfortunate events bring him back to his homeland, pushing him to become a gladiator. He reunites with his mother as new enemies await him in the ring.
Besides Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, and Connie Nielsen play pivotal roles in Gladiator II.
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