Paul Mescal Is ‘Massively Down’ for ‘Gladiator 3’ — and He Doesn’t Think It’ll Take Another 24 Years to Make It

“Gladiator II” may have taken over two decades to come to fruition, but star Paul Mescal is already thinking about a third installment of Ridley Scott’s epic.

When asked by Variety at the film’s London premiere if he’d want to make “Gladiator 3,” Mescal didn’t hesitate. “Oh yeah, massively down,” he said. “I don’t think it will be [24] years — but I have no idea when it will be.”

The Irish actor, who is also Variety‘s latest cover star, leads the sequel to Scott’s 2000 original as Lucius Verus, the secret son of Maximus (the protagonist of the first film, played by Russell Crowe) and former heir to the Roman Empire. Scott returned to direct “Gladiator II,” and the film also stars Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi and Connie Nielsen.

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Of working with Washington, Mescal said: “To be toe-to-toe with Denzel Washington and also have that time with him between set-ups, I’ll cherish that for as long as I live.”

Mescal and Scott are already in talks to work together again on the apocalyptic thriller “The Dog Stars.” When asked about the project on the red carpet, Mescal said he has his “fingers crossed” that it will happen.

Wednesday night’s premiere was a Royal Film Performance, meaning that King Charles was in attendance. Before the screening began, the King greeted Scott, Mescal and his co-stars. The camaraderie within the cast was on full display, as Mescal interrupted Quinn’s interview with Variety to give him a big bear hug.

“Doesn’t he look beautiful?!” Mescal asked.

In his Variety cover story, Mescal discussed beefing up to play a Roman gladiator — he gained 22 pounds — and what drew him to the film in the first place after making a name for himself in indie fare.

“I wasn’t like, ‘I need to do this.’ It was really just Ridley and ‘Gladiator,’ and I felt like I was ripe for this kind of big film,” he said. “I played sports growing up; I know what it is to throw myself around. I look Roman. All of those things. And it’s Ridley Scott!”