Timothée Chalamet could have starred in Gladiator 2, but Ridley Scott decided otherwise after seeing this series

News culture Timothée Chalamet could have starred in Gladiator 2, but Ridley Scott decided otherwise after seeing this series

Among the actors who are making headlines in the cinema world at the moment, we inevitably find Timothée Chalamet. The 28-year-old Franco-American actor is the hottest star. With the successive releases of Wonka (2023) and Dune: Part Two (2024), it continues to attract and win the hearts of viewers. But he could also have followed up with a big role in the Ridley Scott film which has just been released: Gladiator 2.

A trip to London

The famous director Ridley Scott does not choose his actors simply. He lists them on his list and it turns out that Timothée Chalamet was among the last names selected to play Maximus' son according to The Hollywood Reporter. Producer Doug Wick even states that “any studio will always prefer an identified star”. However, it will focus on the talent of the actor ultimately chosen, Paul Mescal. “No one could match him”, he declares. The Irish actor made his name with the films Aftersun and Without Ever Knowing Us. But according to The Hollywood Reporter, Ridley Scott would have fallen for him when he discovered him in the series Normal People.

The director then decides to organize an interview with the Irish actor, producers Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher and the co-presidents of Paramount. After this exchange, they head to London to observe Paul Mescal in a theatrical production of A Streetcar Named Desire. At the end of the performance, all parties came together and were able to dialogue. According to the American media, it was at this precise moment that Paul Mescal would have had his role because Ridley Scott would have greatly appreciated his acting in the room. And this will not be their only collaboration since we will find them in the director's next project entitled The Dog Stars. This future science fiction film should tell the story of a pilot and an ex-Marine who try to survive in a post-apocalyptic America.

A thoughtful choice

If Ridley Scott's decision was rather carefully considered on the choice of the main role, Paul Mescal did not take much time to accept the proposal. He who was waiting for his first blockbuster had no doubts about the right path to follow. “A film like Gladiator II is the dream for a large-scale production. It’s in Ridley’s hands, it’s grounded in the human condition with very clear emotional language”he says. The film has already generated over $165 million at the worldwide box office at a production cost of up to $250 million.