Paul Mescal has said he hates films being called “content”, describing it as a “filthy word.”
The actor made his comments in a new interview with The Times while promoting his new film, Gladiator II, which is released in cinemas later this month.
Speaking about content and the difference between that and the craft of acting, the actor explained: “Over the last few years people have been talking about films as content. That’s a filthy word. It’s not ‘content’, it’s fucking work.
“I’m not being snobby, but there are two concurrent industries. One that works with a lack of care, artistic integrity. Go nuts, make stuff with Instagram followers as a factor, whatever…
“But the other is what has always been there — the craft of film — making, directing, lighting and production design. That keeps artists alive.”
Recently, Mescal revealed he landed his role for Gladiator II after a 30-minute Zoom call with director Ridley Scott.
The actor made the comments on The Graham Norton Show, which aired on BBC One last month (October 25).
In the upcoming sequel, Mescal plays the grandson of Richard Harris’s Emperor Marcus Aurelius from the original film, who was killed by his son Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix.
On how he landed the role, Mescal told Norton: “Ridley does not waste time – I thought there would be camera tests and auditions, but we Zoomed for half an hour, spoke for 10 mins about the part and then 20 minutes about Gaelic football, his dog and his wife.
“I thought there would be more, but he called a few weeks later to offer me the part. I think he just goes by instinct on set and off and I’m very glad that’s the way it went.”
The 28-year-old stars alongside Denzel Washington, who also appeared on Norton’s show. Other cast members include Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn.
Scott’s original blockbuster was released in 2000 and starred Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman general who sets out to exact revenge on the corrupt Emperor Commodus, who murdered his family and enslaved him.
Earlier this month, Mescal revealed that he didn’t ask Crowe for advice before filming Gladiator II, admitting: “I wouldn’t know what to say. I think it’s also a mistake when people go, ‘This was Russell’s thing’. Russell had proven himself time and time again. And he proved himself time and time again after Gladiator. An amazing career like Russell has had wasn’t built by just Gladiator.”
The first screening of Gladiator II recently took place in Los Angeles in front of an audience of AMPAS and SAG voters last month, and the reaction was overwhelming positive.
Gladiator II hits cinemas on November 15 in the UK. In the US, it will arrive on November 22, the same day as Wicked.
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