"The first day I was actually working with Denzel, he was up in the box, and I was rolling around fighting some monkeys or something. At the end of the day, I thought, 'I must go up and introduce myself to Denzel,'" Mescal recalled with a laugh. Mustering up his courage, he headed toward the staircase but froze midway. Mescal quickly retreated to his dressing room, telling himself, "Tomorrow I'm going to be a brave boy."
The next day, determined to make an impression, Mescal waited patiently at the foot of the stairs for Washington to come down. Despite the pressure, Washington broke the ice with humor, saying, "Stop workin' out, man," while shaking Mescal's hand. Reflecting on that unforgettable handshake, Mescal described the moment as "extraordinary."
Washington also had praise for Mescal, reportedly admiring his talent and dedication to the role, even comparing his performance to Russell Crowe's iconic portrayal in the original Gladiator. Mescal later revealed to Entertainment Weekly how inspiring it was to work alongside Washington and director Ridley Scott, calling it a mesmerizing experience.
Looking ahead, Mescal is optimistic about what lies beyond Gladiator II, expressing his desire to keep pushing his career forward. Starring alongside Mescal and Washington, Pedro Pascal and Connie Nielsen join the high-stakes historical drama set to hit theaters on November 22.