Gladiator II featuring Timothée Chalamet could have happened without this Hulu series

When it comes to binge-watching TV, Gladiator II proves that great things can come from it. Ridley Scott, the director behind the film, binge-watched Paul Mescal’s Hulu series Normal People, which led to Mescal landing the leading role of Lucius Verus in the movie.

It’s interesting to think about how Scott’s choice was influenced by the emotionally complex character Mescal played in Normal People. Even though Mescal wasn’t as well-known as actors like Timothée Chalamet or Miles Teller, Scott saw something special in him. Paramount co-presidents of film Daria Cercek and Michael Ireland even watched Mescal in a play in London before deciding to cast him.

Mescal had to endure some tough conditions while filming Gladiator II, dealing with borderline heat stroke in Morocco and Malta. But his hard work paid off, as the movie had a fantastic $106 million opening weekend at the box office.

It’s exciting to see that there might be a Gladiator III in the works, as Scott already has some ideas in mind. Mescal and Scott have plans to collaborate again in a thriller called The Dog Stars, and even though they haven’t talked extensively about another Gladiator film, Mescal is definitely open to the idea.

So, before you dive back into the Gladiator world, make sure to check out Normal People, the show that set the stage for one of the biggest films of 2024.