Pedro Pascal shared a collection of behind-the-scenes photos from Gladiator II, and fans were delighted to see not one, not two, but three slides dedicated to actress May Calamawy. The Egyptian-Palestinian star was part of the film but all of her scenes were reportedly cut from the final edit.
This move drew massive backlash from fans and the reason remains unclear, but what’s evident now is that Pascal expressed support for his costar.
Pedro Pascal Uploads Gladiator II Set Photos With May Calamawy
May Calamawy was meant to have a significant role in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, but it came as a shock to everyone when her scenes were ultimately removed in the theatrical version. This prompted speculation from the audience. The sequel movie was supposed to be her biggest breakout performance since Disney+’s Moon Knight.
At the time, there was no confirmation of who or what she was going to play in the film, but the director reportedly wanted her to be part of the cast. It became suspicious when she did not appear in any of the promotional materials, but there was still hope that perhaps she’d have her much-deserved exposure in the movie.
Gladiator II finally premiered worldwide, and her supposed important role was nowhere to be found. But, because of Pedro Pascal’s Instagram post, fans discovered Calamawy was actually on set in Morocco. In the images, they both seemed to have had a great time goofing around in between takes.
Amid the issue involving the omission of Calamawy’s scenes, the Mandalorian star proved that he stands by her during these uncertain times. While the real reason behind this unfair move is yet to be clarified by the studio, there were talks that it might have something to do with the ongoing Israel-Palestine war.
The removal of an actress of Palestinian descent undoubtedly sparked debate online, although there is no clear proof yet that it was because of her nationality. At the moment, fans will have to wait for further comment from the director or studio representative to shed light on this matter.
May Calamawy Was Still Happy About Her Experience in Gladiator II
Even though Calamawy’s scenes were left out in Gladiator II, the actress remained positive about her experience in the project. A fan who attended London Comic Con revealed in a Twitter post what she had to say about working with the cast.
She says although she’s sad her characters story didn’t make it to gladiator 2, it was one of the best experiences of her life. She loved working with denzel Washington and said it was the coolest and she felt immediately comfortable with him 🥲
— spider-fran 🕸 (@FranPan) November 16, 2024
Sadly, fans won’t be able to see Calamawy’s actual part in the film. Hopefully, we get an explanation of why her role had to be reduced when Scott was initially invested in casting her for the movie.
Gladiator II is now showing in theatres worldwide.
