Paul Mescal, the star of “Gladiator II,” recently made an appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” During the interview, Colbert asked Mescal about his desire to do his own stunts in the film. Mescal joked that he was coming for Tom Cruise and even planned to ride a motorcycle off a balcony.
When asked why he wanted to do his own stunts, Mescal responded that he thought it would be fun. He explained that growing up, he often played with fake swords and guns, so doing stunts felt like permission to live out those childhood fantasies without embarrassment. Mescal also added that if you’re going to do an action movie and not do your own stunts, you wouldn’t be working half the time.
Colbert pointed out that some directors may not like actors doing their own stunts because if something were to happen, production would have to stop. However, Mescal revealed that director Ridley Scott was okay with him doing his own stunts, with a few exceptions. He wasn’t allowed to be thrown through a table or fall off a 60-foot-high wall.
However, Mescal did get the green light to perform a daring stunt involving a horse. He explained that Ridley loves horses and that there is a scene where he runs alongside a cantering horse, jumps up, and hoists himself onto the horse. Mescal was thrilled to be able to do this particular stunt. However, two weeks before filming, Ridley was hesitant about the idea due to a past incident with another actor falling off a horse. Eventually, Mescal convinced Ridley to allow him to do the stunt, and thankfully, he didn’t come off the horse as he had feared.
In addition to discussing “Gladiator II,” Mescal revealed that he would be reprising his role as Stanley Kowalski in “A Streetcar Named Desire.” He had previously performed the role on London’s West End and will now bring it to Brooklyn’s BAM in February.
Overall, the interview showcased Mescal’s enthusiasm for doing his own stunts and his love for acting on stage. It’s clear that Mescal is not just a movie star but a passionate actor who thrives on the stage as well. Fans can catch Mescal in “Gladiator II,” which hits theaters this Friday.
