Paul Mescal, the star of Gladiator 2, has shared his thoughts on the possibility of coming back for a third installment, which would mark a first for him in terms of being part of a franchise.
Back in 2000, Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe joined forces to create the Oscar-winning Gladiator. This film not only set the box office ablaze but also revived the popularity of sword-and-sandals epics and propelled Crowe to superstardom. Now, 24 years later, Scott has returned to direct Gladiator 2 without Crowe, with Mescal taking on the lead role of Lucius. The movie is already expected to achieve great success.
In an interview, Mescal talked about the chances of a Gladiator 3. He expressed a strong interest in the idea of returning to the series, though he admitted he had no clue when, or even if, it might occur. He said, “Oh yeah, massively down. I don’t think it will be [24] years — but I have no idea when it will be.”
What does this mean for Mescal’s career prospects? For a young actor like Mescal, playing the lead in Gladiator 2 is a significant opportunity. It seems from his remarks that the Aftersun star has embraced his leading man role with natural charm. He also appears to understand the importance of the role and how Gladiator 2 could transform the iconic original into an equally remarkable and expansive franchise.
In terms of potential box office and the stakes involved, Gladiator 2 could turn out to be the biggest film in Mescal’s career so far. A return for Gladiator 3 would signify Mescal’s first official franchise role. If the third movie does come to fruition (which will depend largely on the box office success of Gladiator 2), there’s a good chance it will be within the next few years, further enhancing his status. Whether or not Mescal actually returns for a third part, Gladiator 2 is set to be one of the biggest movies of 2024 and will surely be the biggest in his career to date.
The prospects of Gladiator 3 is that it seems more likely than ever. Given how long Gladiator 2 took to make, it’s hard to imagine a follow-up so soon, but it’s the most probable path. With streaming affecting theaters, there’s a greater need to franchise popular stories and capitalize on success. If Gladiator 2 has a strong opening weekend and eventually outperforms the original in terms of box office, Gladiator 3 will almost certainly be made. Mescal’s eagerness to return implies that his character will survive Gladiator 2 and that the movie could even set up the third installment.
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