Update after watching it: Alright, I think I was wrong. The feeling I sensed is definitely there, and something still feels a bit off, but I don’t think it’s related to the performance. I hate to say it, but the film came across as a bit chaotic, and the music didn’t really match the overall tone. Now that I’ve watched the full scenes where Paul’s performance initially felt off to me, I realise that some of his lines are framed to feel important. They come across as staged, but I think that’s due to the direction, not his acting.
Disclaimer: I really don’t want to give my hot take on this, especially since it’s only based on the trailer, but I feel it’s important because it taps into a broader discussion about authenticity, especially in environments where the stakes are high. It’s easy to lose yourself when you’re trying to live up to a certain image or expectation, and I sort of feel Paul Mescal may have navigated this in his performance as Lucius.
Back in March, in my On Screen Nudity: Dongs vs Boobs feat. Paul Mescal, I passionately ranted about Paul Mescal and Gladiator while exploring Hollywood’s hypocrisy toward on-screen nudity. I said, and I stand by it, "I’ve never been more jealous or sad about not being a boy than when I found out Gladiator was getting a sequel. I’m aware that, even if I were a boy, my chances of becoming Lucius would be slim, but it was nice to dream."
When the trailer finally dropped, it felt like Christmas morning. I watched a few too many times, trying to spot every Easter egg. My dad and I dissected it and geeked out about it for longer that I’d like to admit. Gosh, I loved how it made me feel. The music, the action, Denzel!!, Paul in action, seeing Lucilla again, all of it! The grandeur and the scale of it all, gave me literal goosebumps. For a moment, I was 13 again, sitting on the edge of the sofa with my dad, heart bursting out of our chests watching Maximus lead his people in the battle.
Yet this time, I had a weird feeling in my gut. I tried to ignore it because this is exactly what I wanted. Not only a sequel, but for Paul Mescal to be part of it. When I first saw his face a few years ago and felt his vibe, on and off screen, I called it (to myself, still counts tho!), that he should play Lucius in a Gladiator sequel. I thought that because he sort of looks like a young Joaquin Phoenix and I've always thought Lucius might be Commodus’ incestuous son cos the areas were grey af. I wasn’t right about that part tho, can’t win them all.
As the promo videos kept popping up on my feed, that strange feeling persisted. Over the last few years, I've learned enough lessons to never ignore what my body is trying to tell me, whether it's about a fictional character or that I shouldn't walk down a dark alleyway at night. So, explored it. I went deep because I wanted to understand. And while I’m not thrilled about what I uncovered, it did open the door to a bigger question.
And it’s about Lucius. It’s about Paul. Fuck, I can’t believe I’m actually writing this.
The Weight of Expectation
We only hear Lucius speak a few times in the trailer, and while his presence is noticeable and exudes confidence, especially with the music building around him to amplify his energy, something about his delivery felt a bit off to me, empty even. It wasn’t just the lines he spoke, but the way he seemed to be holding back, as if he wasn’t fully inhabiting the character. It made me feel like something essential was missing in his portrayal. His usual depth didn’t fully come through, and his voice, normally rich with emotion, felt a little flat.
The Paul authentic magic I experienced before wasn’t fully there. It’s as if he was acting the part, rather than truly becoming it. His voice gave him away and I felt it. I felt it in the few seconds I heard it.
My soul noticed a contrast between Paul Mescal’s natural vocal honesty and depth and the more restrained portrayal of Lucius. It just didn’t feel as genuine and sincere as I know it to be. There was a slight echo, as if there was a bit of an empty space behind the words. It’s almost as if he’s wearing it, not being it. He might be wearing it super tight to his body, but it is not it. You know what I mean?
It made me wonder if the immense pressure of the Gladiator legacy influenced how he approached the character, making him, to some extend, to “act the part” of Lucius rather than fully embody it.
Sweet, sweet Paul magic
Mescal, as an actor, is known for being deeply authentic not only in his roles but everywhere he shows up, his emotional vulnerability, rawness of who he is gives such a strong, authentic presence. He exudes a kind of quiet intensity, often bringing depth through his body language and voice rather than overt expressions.
I feel that Paul crafted Lucius from a place of slight anxiety and a tiny sense of unworthiness, rather than using his palpable, one of a kind energy we can all feel but can’t really express into words. It made me think that he built the character based on what the industry and audience might expect, adhering to perceived standards. It’s as if he didn’t trust his true, raw essence as a foundation for Lucius, he needed to “improve” upon it to be deemed “good enough” for a role of such magnitude.
And I get it! I can only imagine the immense pressure tied to a legacy like Gladiator, a franchise steeped in cinematic grandeur. Sir Ridley Scott and the original film represent monumental filmmaking, and being introduced into this world might indeed cause even the most authentic actors to feel the weight of expectations. I fear that, somewhere in the process, Paul might have lost a little of that unique spark, the sweet, sweet Paul magic that sets him apart.
The Subtle Pressure to Conform
This isn’t just about Paul Mescal. It’s about how we, as humans, struggle with authenticity when entering high-stakes environments. Take Jennifer Lawrence. Known for her raw authenticity, JLaw faced massive pressure when she was cast as Katniss in The Hunger Games. Fans and critics initially felt her portrayal was stiff or overly serious, likely due to the weight of those expectations. But as the series progressed, she relaxed into the role, finding her stride.
I believe that, when stepping into a high-profile role with huge expectations and staying true to the unique energy that got you noticed in the first place is a balancing act, and even the most authentic actors can feel pressured to mould themselves to what they think the role or audience demands, rather than trusting that their authentic selves are enough. It speaks to the broader industry and how it relates to individuals finding the confidence to stay true to themselves, even when the environment seems bigger or more intimidating. Most of the time, no one explicitly tells them to conform, but there’s a subtle pressure to do so, even if it’s self inflicted.
And then it made me think ..
This a struggle that exists beyond Hollywood. In any new environment, a job, a leadership role, or a relationship, many of us feel pressure to conform. Many people experience imposter syndrome, this feeling that they don’t truly belong or that they're not as capable as others perceive them to be. This often leads to people acting in ways that they think will be more acceptable or impressive, rather than leaning into who they naturally are. We’re all guilty of downplaying our quirks, talents or unique perspective, thinking that being more conventional will help us succeed, when, in fact, our authenticity is exactly what got us noticed in the first place.
This article isn’t to criticise Paul’s performance, far from it. Instead, it’s about illustrating how the pressures of expectation, whether it's coming from stepping into a blockbuster film or entering new environment can cause even the most authentic individuals to experience moments of self-doubt, where the fear of not being enough clouds the very qualities that makes that person extraordinary.
Going even deeper, I believe we tend to feel pressured, often unconsciously, to adopt a persona that aligns with what we think is necessary in order to deliver the goods, modelled after those who came before us, even if it means sacrificing our own authenticity.
How many times have we dimmed our light, “polished” our true selves or hardened our personalities to fit a certain mould, especially when we reach a level that a younger version of ourselves idolised?
How many times has the fear of seeming “ordinary” pushed us to act bigger, louder (and uncut 🤭), when in reality, our impact is most genuine when we stay true to ourselves, even if it’s “ordinary”?
How many times are we completely coherent and articulate, only to stumble over our words when talking to our date, ending up choking on our own saliva?
In Paul’s case, it almost feels like he was going through a similar internal struggle, wanting to be enough for this epic blockbuster and meet the high expectations set by the original film, may have led to a slight holding back of his true essence. His presence is magnificent, but his voice, the emotional indicator, didn’t quite match. It’s as if he was caught in his own head while portraying Lucius, not fully allowing himself to let go, staying a bit too aware, as if keeping an eye on himself to make sure he was doing a good job.
Trusting Your Authentic Self
Again 😅, this isn’t a diss on Paul. It’s an observation on how even the most talented and genuine individuals can feel pressured to adjust their performance, consciously or not, when they’re thrust into a new environment with high expectations. This applies not just to actors, but to all of us when we step into roles or spaces we idolise.
And sometimes, the shift is so subtle and fine, it’s almost unnoticeable, though certainly not to this Scorpio 🙋♀️! This makes it a dangerous line for me to tread, as the feeling is difficult to fully articulate in words or capture within a short article
It’s similar to the difference between Matt Rife and Pete Davidson. Both use bold, dark, borderline-insulting humour, but the energy fuelling their performances is what creates the difference in how they’re perceived. With Matt Rife, it feels like he’s pushing the envelope to be different, portraying that persona of “yeah, I said what I said, don’t care what you think, deal with it”, perhaps from a place of ego, whereas Pete Davidson’s edgy humour, no matter how audacious or dark, feels like it’s coming from a deeply authentic place. That’s why it resonates differently, hits better with people. It’s a fine line between performing for validation and staying true to one’s inner self and, in my opinion, it's about where that energy is coming from. Is it coming from your own inner being, needing to express something true or is it coming from your need to be perceived in a certain way?
What I’m sensing is a broader human experience. The external pressure to conform, whether it’s to fit into a cinematic legacy or a new role, can cause even the most authentic people to hesitate. But I believe the way forward, for all of us, is to embrace and trust our unique energy, no matter how high the stakes.
I know that the bits we’ve seen in the trailer are not fully reflective of what he brings to the entire role. I know there’s a strong chance I might have jumped the gun with this article because the scenes might feel completely different in the context of the full movie, where his arc can unfold more naturally. And I am so excited to be proven wrong!!!
This deep dive no one asked for, made me think of The Dark Knight and Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker. Initially, there was so much skepticism about his casting, but Ledger leaned so fully into his own unique take on the character that he turned it into one of the most iconic and unique performances in cinematic history. He trusted his own voice, energy, and interpretation, rather than worrying about living up to Jack Nicholson’s version of the Joker from earlier films. This is an example of an actor fully embodying authenticity, even under incredible pressure.
New Hollywood: The Industry Is Changing
I am absolutely rooting for Paul Mescal, if anything, it shows even more vulnerability and humanity.
I said it before and I’ll say it again: Paul is New Hollywood, not only as an actor but as a human being. I guess thats why I’ve felt a little bit thrown by his vibe in this trailer and had to write a novel about it. Or maybe cos I’m just bitter!
I don’t think this slight imbalance is uncommon for actors stepping into massive roles or sequels that come with cultural weight. The idea of imposter syndrome is very real in creative fields, especially when you’re stepping into a part that comes with decades of legacy and fan expectations. Actors, can sometimes find themselves navigating between who they truly are and what they think they need to project in order to fit into this pre-decided world of the film.
But I truly believe this doesn’t have to be the way forward.
The moment every single person, actor or not, finds and unconditionally loves themselves, showing up in their own authentic, raw energy, embodying their full being, knowing their why and trusting their creativity and worth, regardless of who is in the room, they will naturally be able to stand still in any environment, no matter how colossal. They will be able to build any character, create any world, or produce any form of art from their purest source of energy. It will take whatever form it needs to because it will come from their authentic self, just like Heath Ledger’s Joker did.
And now, I’m manifesting two tickets to the Gladiator 2 premiere in London, so my inner child and her dad can experience this moment together. Gladiator holds a special place in my heart, not only as a fundamental part of my childhood but also as the foundation of my relationship with my dad (this and Highlander but we gonna wait for Chad Stahelski to start his thing before I butt in).
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