Paul Mescal has made a place for himself in Hollywood pretty quickly with some great hits putting his most commendable skills on display. Despite the heavy recognition and an ever-increasing fanbase, Mescal had a classic case of cold feet when it came to meeting Denzel Washington for the first time on the set of ‘Gladiator II‘.
The young superstar is set to hit the screens again with the highly anticipated film ‘Gladiator II‘, but it wasn’t without a few hurdles along the way. Appearing on ‘The Graham Norton Show‘, the young star revealed the hilariously awkward details of his initial encounter with the legendary star Washington — one that nearly didn’t happen.
Paul Mescal Recalls His First Conversation With Denzel Washington
On his first day of filming, Paul Mescal remembered seeing Denzel Washington sitting in the stands while he was off fighting monkeys for a scene. Determined to introduce himself, he tried to psych himself up. “I was stood at the bottom of the steps, and I stood there for a couple of minutes, and I said, ‘Not today,'” Mescal admitted.
He actually bailed on meeting the two-time Oscar winner, running straight to his dressing room. “Tomorrow, I’m going to be a brave boy,” he decided.
Day two came, and Mescal was not going to let the opportunity slip past him. Again, standing at the bottom of the stairs, he steeled himself for Washington as he descended. And finally, the moment arrived.
Related: Ridley Scott Has A “Very Good Footprint” For ‘Gladiator 3’ With Its Script Already In Works
Remembering how it felt as he shook hands with the legend, Mescal said, “It just felt extraordinary.” Washington, of course, had a cheeky comment ready for his first impression. “Stop workin’ out, man,” he told Mescal.
Though a little nervous, Mescal soon figured that their bond turned out wonderful, with Washington ending up singing Mescal’s praises. “This kid delivers,” Washington said. “I saw it when Russell [Crowe] did it, and this kid delivered.”
Paul Mescal Hopes ‘Gladiator II’ Isn’t The Best Of His Works
‘Gladiator II‘, the highly anticipated film starring both stars, is a historical action film. A sequel to ‘Gladiator,” the film will be directed by Ridley Scott. The plot occurs about two decades after the main story. Mescal plays Lucius’ character, who comes back to Rome after being sent away to another city into hiding for protection when just a child.
While Mescal does all the heavy lifting on the arena floor, it is Washington who plays the role of Macrinus, a wealthy arms merchant who is more interested in twirling his goblet than swinging a sword.
In case you missed it: Is Lucius The Son Of Maximus In ‘Gladiator 2’? Why Isn’t He The Emperor?
“I had to learn how to walk with sandals on,” Washington joked, speaking about his character during the show. “I tripped a couple of times, but I became one with my peers,” he added.
For Mescal, however, there’s no rest on laurels, ad he claims that ‘Gladiator II‘ is not the high point of his career. “I have so much more that I want to do,” he said.
Something tells us, he’s just getting started.
