Rising Star Paul Mescal Signs on to Two Major New Projects; an Untitled Sequel to 'Gladiator' and 'Merrily We Roll Along'

by Darian Scalamoni

    Paul Mescal (Aftersun, Normal People) has quickly risen up the Hollywood ladder to become one of the most sought-after young actors in the business. After a coming out party that has included awards consideration from many, it appears that Mescal will soon be turning in to work with not one, but two iconic directors for his next roles in cinema. According to Deadline, Mescal has won a high-profile role in the long-awaited sequel to Gladiator, the Best Picture winner from 2000. Additionally, another exclusive report that comes from Above the Line states that Mescal will also lead the Richard Linklater film, Merrily We Roll Along, which is set to film for the next 20 years.

    Ridley Scott (The Martian, Blade Runner) has stated that he would love to return to the world of Gladiator for many years. The film that won 5 Academy Awards and got the legendary director nominated for a Best Director trophy seems to be moving ahead with the casting news of Mescal, seemingly pointing to being close to production. Gladiator follows a Roman General who sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery and starred Russell Crowe in the lead role which earned him an Oscar for his performance. The cast also featured Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed and of course, Joaquin Phoenix as the villainous Commodus. Mescal is set to play Phoenix's son Lucius in the film that will take place long after the events of the first blockbuster which earned over $460 million worldwide. It's said by Deadline reporter Justin Kroll on Twitter that Mescal beat out fellow actors Miles Teller and Timothee Chalamet for the coveted role.

    In regard to Merrily We Roll Along, it is a film that Linklater (Boyhood, Before Midnight) has developed and already begun filming as of the Summer of 2019. Having also cast Beanie Feldstein and Ben Platt in lead roles, Mescal's role was originally played by Blake Jenner, who has already filmed scenes as well, however, Linklater aims to replace his scenes with Mescal following the domestic abuse allegations set against Jenner from his ex-wife, Melissa Benoist. The ambitious project will take place over 20 years, almost doubling the filming time that his Best Picture nominee, Boyhood had and will follow the same three actors (Platt, Feldstein & Mescal) throughout their careers as people in show business. Mescal will take over the role of Franklin Shepard, a talented Broadway composer who abandons his New York theater lifestyle to produce films on the West Coast in Los Angeles. The film is based on a Stephen Sondheim musical and will follow Shepard at the height of his Hollywood fame and show snippets in time where he navigated highs and lows within the industry. 

    Mescal is best known for his role on TV that got him his start, Normal People which streamed on Hulu. He was nominated for an Emmy for the lead role of Connell along with another blossoming young star, Daisy Edgar-Jones. The two actor's names catapulted to the top of casting directors' lists following the romantic drama that adapts the best-selling novel from Sally Rooney. Mescal followed up that performance with roles in films such as The Lost Daughter and God's Creatures, however, it's his latest film, Aftersun from A24 that is garnering awards consideration for playing a father on holiday with his young daughter twenty years earlier.

    What do you guys think of the news of Paul Mescal getting two major roles in the Gladiator and Merrily We Roll Along? Have you seen any of his work, and do you think he's bound to be the next major star in Hollywood?