Denzel Washington has been singing the praises of actor Paul Mescal as they promote the upcoming sequel Gladiator II.
Mescal tells 9honey Celebrity at the Australian premiere of the film, the moment Washington said in a recent TV interview that his performance "delivered" in the movie, couldn't have been more well received.
"I'm totally comfortable saying this but I got absolutely emotional when he said that," Mescal says on the red carpet in Sydney of the moment on The Graham Norton Show.
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Paul Mescal tells 9honey Celebrity at the Australian premiere of Gladiator II, Denzel Washington's recent praise for his performance has been "absolutely emotional" (Hanna Lassen/Getty Images)"Because he's just been both so generous with his talent, his performance in the film is just extraordinary but he's been totally paternal in a non-condescending way entirely on this press tour.
"And to get that from somebody who is so fundamentally talented is so, it feels incredibly generous and kind."
Mescal, 28, is stepping into the lead character role as Lucius, and he's got big shoes to fill, with Aussie actor Russell Crowe famously starring as gladiator Maximus in the original film.
However, the Oscar nominee says he's hoping Hollywood heavyweights like Crowe approve of his performance.
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Denzel Washington has been singing the praises of actor Paul Mescal as they promote the upcoming sequel Gladiator II. (Hanna Lassen/Getty Images)
Mescal, 28, is stepping into the lead character role as Lucius, and he's got big shoes to fill, with Aussie actor Russell Crowe famously starring as gladiator Maximus in the original film. (Hanna Lassen/Getty Images)"That's probably a question for Russell, but like, I hope so,'' the Irish actor says with a laugh on the red carpet.
Gladiator II is the highly-anticipated sequel to 2000's iconic Gladiator, which starred Crowe alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Connie Nielson. Both films were directed by the acclaimed Ridley Scott, now 86.
Nielsen, 59, has returned for the new film in her role as Lucilla, mum of Lucius.
Gladiator II, which will be released worldwide on November 14, also stars Pedro Pascal, Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn, along with Mescal and Washington.
Gladiator II is the highly-anticipated sequel to 2000's iconic Gladiator, which starred Crowe alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Connie Nielson (Aidan Monaghan)The story is a continuation of the original film and centres on Mescal's character Lucius entering the gladiator ring to restore the balance of power in Rome.
Scott previously told Vanity Fair he thought the Irish actor was so "perfect" for the role, he gave it to him without a screen test.
"He was a special find. He was absolutely perfect," the director said.
Danish actress Nielson also told the publication her character sees a very different story play out in the sequel.
The story is a continuation of the original film and centres on Mescal's character Lucius entering the gladiator ring to restore the balance of power in Rome. (Aidan Monaghan)Where her son was just a child in Gladiator, he's now fully grown and grappling with some mixed emotions toward his mum.
"There is an authoritarian power that is parading as if it were still somehow the vestiges of a Republican government," she told Vanity Fair.
"Inside of this travesty are human beings who are caught in this gamesmanship and power.
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Everything to know about the cast of Gladiator I and II
"That is what I find always so interesting in Ridley's stories. He's really showing the effect of power on people and what happens in a place where power is unrestrained."
The original Gladiator film was critically acclaimed and became the second highest grossing movie of 2000, raking in more than $700 million worldwide.
It went on to receive a total of 12 Academy Award nominations, taking home the prize in five categories including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe, catapulting him to global stardom.
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