Paul Mescal, the 28-year-old GLADIATOR 2 actor, has solidified his position as a cinematic powerhouse in 2024, with his most anticipated role in Ridley Scott’s latest opus leading the charge. 

His remarkable trajectory continues with a prestigious invitation to The Hollywood Reporter’s ACTORS ROUNDTABLE, sharing the stage with an elite group of performers. Mescal joins Adrien Brody (THE BRUTALIST), Colman Domingo (SING SING), Daniel Craig (QUEER), Peter Sarsgaard (SEPTEMBER 5) and Sebastian Stan (THE APPRENTICE).

Beyond GLADIATOR 2, Mescal continues to demonstrate remarkable range through projects like FOE, a compelling sci-fi psychological drama co-starring Saoirse Ronan, and ALL OF US STRANGERS, an intimate drama that has garnered significant festival praise. His selection for the Hollywood Reporter’s prestigious Actors Roundtable further solidifies his status, placing him in conversation with incredibly established actors. This recognition highlights Mescal’s rapid ascent from his breakthrough in NORMAL PEOPLE to an Academy Award-nominated performance in AFTERSUN, and now to leading roles in both independent and major studio productions.

Paul Mescal will host SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE on December 7, 2023, with musical guest Shaboozey. This will be his first time hosting the show and comes as part of his promotional tour for GLADIATOR 2 in which he stars as Hanno, a former Roman heir turned gladiator. The movie, directed by Ridley Scott and featuring stars like Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington, will release two weeks before his SNL appearance.

This episode will air after SNL’s three-week Thanksgiving break and is part of the show’s milestone 50th season. The current season has already featured notable hosts including Jean Smart, Ariana Grande, Michael Keaton, John Mulaney, Bill Burr, and Charli XCX. SNL will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a special primetime episode on February 16, 2024.

Mescal, who gained recognition from NORMAL PEOPLE (2020) and received an Oscar nomination for AFTERSUN is venturing into mainstream territory with both GLADIATOR 2 and this comedy hosting opportunity on SNL.

Kildare native Paul Mescal was the center of attention at the Irish premiere of the highly anticipated GLADIATOR 2 at the Lighthouse Cinema in Dublin on Nov 7. The Oscar-nominated actor spent nearly an hour greeting fans and posing for selfies as he made his way down the red carpet.

Gladiator II, the much-anticipated sequel to the 2000 blockbuster Gladiator, marks a significant milestone in Mescal’s rising film career. In the new installment, he takes on the lead role of Lucius, set 15 years after the events of the original film. The plot follows Lucius as he navigates the deadly and violent world of the Colosseum, seeking revenge against the Roman Empire.

As Mescal steps into the spotlight of a global-scale production, he is surrounded by a stellar cast, including Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, and Connie Nielsen. Producer Douglas Wick acknowledged the challenge of creating a sequel that would captivate audiences, stating, “Whatever we created had to provide captivating new thrills – a true spectacle for the ages.”

While official reviews are still under embargo, fans are eagerly anticipating the response to Gladiator II and the continued success of Paul Mescal’s flourishing film career.

More than two decades on, Ridley Scott’s seminal, best picture-winning action epic GLADIATOR is getting a sequel—and, by all accounts, it’s going to be a corker. Starring a hulking Paul Mescal, now a world away from NORMAL PEOPLE’S sensitive Connell Waldron, as Lucius, the son of Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla and the nephew of Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus, it’ll see our magnetic lead step into the arena and fight to the death.

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