Russell Crowe talks Gladiator 2

Russell Crowe has given Irish actor Paul Mescal his blessing ahead of the long-awaited Gladiator sequel.

Crowe won his first of two Academy Awards for his performance as Maximus in Ridley Scott's 2000 film.

Earlier this year, it was confirmed Normal People's Mescal will play the role of Lucius, the son of Connie Nielson's Lucilla and nephew to Joaquin Phoenix's Commodus.

Despite not being involved in the the new film, New Zealand native Crowe had nothing but good things to say about the Kildare man.

'I'm sure at one point in time they'll want to ask me about something but they haven't brought anything up in a while. It's an extension of the narrative but long beyond Maximus' passing. It doesn't really involve me at all.

'I hear that young fella Paul is a good dude, I wish him the best of luck with it. I think where they're picking the story up is with young Lucus stepping into the role of Emperor. I think that's a very smart idea within the world of the film we created,' he told Ryan Tubridy on RTE Radio One.

He added: 'No doubt I'll end up having hundreds of friends working on it. I already know designers and leather workers, one of your [Tubridy's] tennis companions is already making the armour and thing like that.'

Admitting that he has 'jealously' over not being involved in the film, Crowe's relationship with Gladiator has improved over the years.

'I don't want to dwell on it too much because it does take me back to a period of time where I was significantly younger. The rose coloured glasses of that experience now are perfectly crystallised. I look back on it and I loved every minute of it.

'That wasn't the case at the time. I do like being on a period movie set -- I don't know why. Stepping into those kind of costumes and situations has a creative appeal to me. There's a slight edge of jealously people get to have that experience I had once,' he joked.

Mescal is already training for the film as he continues to build up steam following his first Oscar nomination for Aftersun.

Every time someone asks me if I've started working out, I'm like, "What do you mean? You can't tell?" . I'm working hard. Hopefully, when you see me in three or four weeks you'll be able to see it... I like exercise. It's not something I dread.

'I imagine it will be like the classic thing of eating lots of chicken and broccoli. I'm looking forward to it because anything that is kind of structured and difficult, it's kinda fun,' he recently told Variety.

https://extra.ie/2023/03/28/entertainment/russell-crowe-paul-mescal