‘Aftersun’ Star Paul Mescal in Talks to Lead ‘Gladiator’ Sequel

In a few short years, Adam Driver has gone from underground TV curiosity to the most compelling leading man in movies. The young actor has already notched two consecutive Oscar nominations for his roles in 2018’s “BlacKkKlansman” and 2019’s “Marriage Story,” plus an extended excursion into the “Star Wars” universe.

When you read the script you immediately knew you wanted the role. Was there a specific moment that did it for you or was it more of an overall feeling?It was like when you read a good book… I can’t remember an exact moment. Let’s just say the first couple of pages I was like, ‘This is somebody who knows exactly what they want and how they want to go about doing it,’ even just from the writing, before I met [Wells].

Paul Mescal has been nominated for Best Actor for playing a Scots dad in the film Aftersun. The Irishman is up against the likes of Austin Butler and Colin Farrell.

Paul Mescal freely admits that Stanley Kowalski is a wife beater and a rapist. The star of indie favorite Aftersun says he has “a lot of sympathy for him because that’s my job” — Mescal is playing the brutal antagonist in a revival of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire at London’s Almeida Theatre.

After months of campaigning, the 95th Oscar nominations are here. And, in theory, with blockbusters such as “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (granted, a streaming blockbuster), and “Avatar: The Way of Water” in the mix for Best Picture nominations people should be excited.

EXCLUSIVE: Amir Arison (The Blacklist, lead on Broadway’s The Kite Runner) joins series lead Brian Tyree Henry in the cast of Apple’s crime drama series Sinking Spring from Top Gun: Maverick writer Peter Craig. The 8- episode series is directed and executive produced by Ridley Scott via his Scott Free Productions.

BFI Distribution has picked up the well-received Irish drama God’s Creatures for theatrical release in the UK. The deal also includes a partnership with independent Irish distributor Volta Pictures, who have acquired the film for Ireland.

Connecting over coffee. Angelina Jolie met with Paul Mescal at a cafe amid rumors that he and Phoebe Bridgers quietly split, but the rendezvous wasn’t as romantic as some fans may have expected.

Paul Mescal enters the north London cafe having trudged a short distance through the snow from his gym. Heads turn, but Mescal is oblivious. He shakes himself out of a hooded coat then nonchalantly removes a sweater to reveal a ribbed torso sheathed in a white T-shirt. More stares. The star of Aftersun, Scottish director Charlotte Wells’s tender visual poem about a father and daughter, takes a seat and rubs his tummy. In that moment it’s all too easy to compare him to Marlon Brando, with the tight-ish whitey shirt and all that.

Back in 2019, Richard Linklater announced what was probably going to be the most ambitious film project of his career, “Merrily We Roll Along.” Unfortunately, this is a film you won’t be able to see for another couple of decades, as Linklater is filming segments with the same group of actors over the course of 20 years to properly adapt Stephen Sondheim‘s acclaimed musical.

How’s this for entertainment? Deadline reports that Ridley Scott‘s long-awaited “Gladiator” sequel is in motion, with up-and-comer Paul Mescal in negotiations to star. After a breakout year with acclaimed performances in “Aftersun” and “God’s Creatures,” it felt inevitable Mescal would bag a big-budget role.

EXCLUSIVE: Ridley Scott always said he would return to the Colosseum to continue the story of his blockbuster epic Gladiator, and it looks like we are getting close to having that wish granted. Sources tell Deadline that Normal People star Paul Mescal is in negotiations to lead the sequel to the Oscar-winning pic, with Scott returning to the directing chair. Scott also will produce, along with Scott Free President Michael Pruss as well as Doug Wick & Lucy Fisher via Red Wagon Entertainment. David Scarpa penned the script.