Director Paul Mescal has urged moviegoers to watch the double feature of “Gladiator II” and “Wicked,” and hopes “Glicked” will be the new “Babenheimer.”
“I think they complement each other very well because they’re so different,” the Oscar-nominated actor told me at the “Gladiator II” premiere in Los Angeles on Monday night. “And if you like movies, please go out and support movies. We’re at a critical juncture, so don’t wait until they show up on streamers. We’re not going to have theatrical movies for a while. If you like movies, go out and watch both movies.”
Fred Hechinger, who plays Emperor Caracalla in Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator” sequel, said he was planning a “gricky” day at the theater. “I love ‘Wicked,'” he said. “I’ll sing ‘Defying Gravity.'”
Speaking of singing, Mescal and Hechinger also detailed a visit to a karaoke bar while promoting Gladiator II in Japan.
“I pushed myself into a corner with this. When I was doing press for ‘Aftersun,’ I thought, ‘I hate karaoke.’ I hate karaoke,” Mescal said. “But I decided to do it, and I enjoyed it.”
What song did he belt out? “I played ‘The Climb,'” he answered.
Did he hit a Miley Cyrus-level note? “Of course not. I was drunk. It was great,” Mescal said with a laugh. “It’s not about the problem, it’s about the spirit.”
“I was a part of that,” Hechinger, who also sang Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One,” said of her performance of “The Climb.” “I think karaoke was created for people who can’t use their voices. If your voice is too good, you’ll feel embarrassed doing karaoke.”
The Gladiator II press tour included the Royal Premiere in London, attended by King Charles III. “It’s definitely not what I expected to be on my bingo card,” Mescal said of his interaction with the British monarch. “I’m Irish so it’s not on my list of priorities. But it’s amazing for Ridley [Scott] Because I know how important it is to him. So it was very special to see his films praised in that context. ”
Mescal couldn’t remember what King Charles actually said to him. “It was hard to hear exactly what he was saying. Your head is kind of in a frenzy, so you’re just nodding or just laughing.”
Check out photos from the “Gladiator II” premiere below.
Michael Pruss, Fred Hechinger, Connie Nielsen, Paul Mescal, Ridley Scott and Denzel Washington at the Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Gladiator II’ at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California on November 18, 2024 Attended.
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Paul Mescal poses with a fan at the Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Gladiator II’ at the TCL Chinese Theater on November 18, 2024 in Hollywood, California.
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Chrishell Stause attends the Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Gladiator II’ held at TCL Chinese Theater on November 18, 2024 in Hollywood, California.
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Chris Appleton attends the Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Gladiator II’ held at TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California on November 18, 2024.
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Mayim Bialik attends the Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Gladiator II’ at the TCL Chinese Theater on November 18, 2024 in Hollywood, California.
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Stephanie Beatriz attends the Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Gladiator II’ at the TCL Chinese Theater on November 18, 2024 in Hollywood, California.
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Giannina Scott, Ridley Scott, Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington attend the Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Gladiator II’ held at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California on November 18, 2024.
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Lewis Hamilton attends the Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Gladiator II’ held at TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California on November 18, 2024.
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Chante Broadus and Snoop Dogg attend the Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Gladiator II’ held at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California on November 18, 2024.
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June Squibb and Fred Hechinger attend the Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Gladiator II’ held at the TCL Chinese Theater on November 18, 2024 in Hollywood, California.
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Manila Luzon attends the Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Gladiator II’ held at TCL Chinese Theater on November 18, 2024 in Hollywood, California.
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Lucy Fisher and Douglas Wick attend the Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Gladiator II’ at TCL Chinese Theater on November 18, 2024 in Hollywood, California.
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