Paul Mescal is featured in the GQ US November 2024 issue, where he’s spotlighted in what many are calling his “Gladiator era.” This refers to his role as Lucius Verus in Gladiator II, Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel to the original 2000 film. In this feature, Mescal discusses his intense physical preparation for the role, reflecting on the challenges of training for the film’s action sequences. Mescal also emphasizes the importance of honoring the legacy of the original film while bringing a new direction to the sequel. The feature ties into his rising Hollywood stardom, capturing his transition into larger-than-life roles .
The November 2024 issue comes at a pivotal moment, just before Gladiator II’s release on November 22, 2024, and showcases Mescal’s journey from his Normal People fame to becoming the new face of an iconic historical epic.
ou can’t walk around London or New York City, or any city for that matter, without seeing Paul Mescal lookalikes. The soft mullet haircut, shaggy facial hair, ear piercing, and, of course, the short shorts, have become part of his lore.
That, and the rumors about him running away from dates in parks. Mescal was with his siblings over the holidays when the memes started surfacing: “Ohhhhhhh. F*****g hell! We were looking at the videos and we were pissing ourselves at it. Categorically untrue. And we were laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing.”
The shorts get shorter. The roles get bolder. The fans grow ever more ravenous. Now, Paul Mescal is trading his indie tears for blockbuster blood as the centerpiece of Ridley Scott’s #GladiatorII.
We spent some time —in a London park, no less—with the reigning king of earthy and emotional heartthrobs to talk about making the leap to blockbusters, *those* internet rumors, being a “psychopath” about work, and more. Read the cover story by @gabriellapaiella and see the photos by @studio_jackson.
According to Paul Mescal, “acting is acting is acting,” whether you’re in an intimate indie film or a $250 million behemoth across from Denzel Washington.
The Gladiator sequel comes nearly 25 years after the original. But Mescal didn’t get in touch with Russell Crowe, the legendary star of the first movie, at any point: “I wouldn’t know what to say. I think it’s also a mistake when people go, ‘This was Russell’s thing,’ Russell had proven himself time and time again. And he proved himself time and time again after Gladiator. An amazing career like Russell has had wasn’t built by just Gladiator.”
“This is a film made by a massive amount of people for a massive amount of people. That is the target of this film. You can call a spade a spade. That’s what I want. That’s what the studio wants. We want to make something great that lots of people go to.”
Paul Mescal is stepping into the blockbuster arena with his biggest movie to date, Gladiator II, and he knows how high the stakes are:
Read The November issue is here featuring Paul Mescal.
Read his full response to the rumors—and a lot more from Mescal, the new leading man of the moment.
Written by @gabriellapaiella
Photographed by @studio_jackson
Styled by @georgecortina
Hair by @rudilewis at @lgamanagement
Skin by @mirandajoyce using @cledepeaubeaute
Tailoring by @_dellageorge
Set Design by @maxbellhouse at @themagnetagency
Produced by @faragoprojects
