Mescal appeared alongside co-stars Denzel Washington, Connie Nielson and other members of the cast
The Irish stars have been firm friends since they starred alongside eachother in psychological thriller Foe and partied together at Glastonbury during the summer.
Mescal plays Lucius in the movie blockbuster — the son of Russell Crowe’s famous hero Maximus Decimus Meridius’ lover Lucilla.
Mescal appeared alongside co-stars Denzel Washington, Connie Nielson and other members of the cast for a special Screening, Q&A and Reception at Paramount Pictures Studios in LA on Friday.
Gladiator II is to be released in November and Friday’s screening gave some media outlets and film critics a first look at the movie.
Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Paul Mescal and Fred Hechinger attend a “Gladiator II” Special Screening, Q&A and Reception at Paramount Pictures Studios on October 18, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)
The 28-year-old, who first made headlines in hit RTÉ drama Normal People, looked casual in an oversized shirt and black baggy trousers.
Kildare native Mescal is set to hit the jackpot with his starring role in the blockbuster, resulting in a payday set to be in the millions.
Russell Crowe got $5 million for his role in Gladiator in 2000, with Joaquin Phoenix receiving $4.5m. The budget for Gladiator 2 is around $300m.
Connie Nielsen and Paul Mescal attend a “Gladiator II” Special Screening, Q&A and Reception at Paramount Pictures Studios on October 18, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)
At one stage, Dublin star Barry Keoghan was linked with the main role but had to pull out due to other commitments.
In the film, Lucius is fighting for his life as a gladiator, despite his high status as nephew of corrupt former Emperor Commodus.
Mescal hit the gym to tone up for his role in the film, but confessed he didn’t want to overdo it as he didn’t want to look “like an underwear model”.
Paul (left) as Lucius in Gladiator II
Paul became a star on both sides of the Atlantic with his portrayal of Connell Waldron in the lockdown hit drama Normal People in the spring of 2020.
The Trinity Lir Academy graduate last year won a Laurence Olivier award for his portrayal of Stanley Kowalski in a revival of the play A Streetcar Named Desire.
Paul Mescal and Patrick Stewart attend a “Gladiator II” Special Screening, Q&A and Reception at Paramount Pictures Studios on October 18, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)
His pal Saoirse Ronan’s career has also been going from strength to strength with the Carlow star creating Oscar buzz for two of her recent movies.
The Outrun, released in September, sees her play a woman who moves to Scotland’s Orkney Islands as she attempts to come to terms with her troubled past, while the Blitz, to be released in November, stars Ronan as a young mother frantically searching for her son in wartime England.
Hollywood insiders have already predicted that Saoirse, who is married to actor Jack Lowden, could land Oscar nominations for both roles.
