"I kissed a foe, and I liked it!"
Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal are playing the two main characters in Gladiator II, a sequel directed by Ridley Scott to his 2000 epic film featuring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. While the girls, gays, and theys were already excited to watch the sword-fighting between those two Hollywood heartthrobs, Mescal added even more fuel to the fire in a new interview.
"There was a moment when we were rehearsing my fight scene with Pedro, and I had an idea towards the end of the scene to kiss Pedro on the forehead," Mescal told Entertainment Weekly. "I did it in one of the takes, and then we're getting the radio messages back to Ridley [in video village]."
The actor continued, "I was like, 'Ridley: kiss on the forehead, did you like it? Yay or nay?' There was radio silence for a second. His radio crackles back, and [Ridley] goes, 'I'm afraid I did.'"
Paul Mescal in 'Gladiator II.'
Paramount Pictures
The interview highlighted that Mescal still laughs about Ridley Scott's surprising reaction to him kissing Pascal on the forehead, adding:
"I think Ridley's one of the funniest men I've ever come across."
Mescal is no stranger to getting a little more intimate with a male costar following his incredible performance alongside Andrew Scott in All of Us Strangers. However, the idea that Mescal and Pascal could have a more tender moment in Gladiator II wasn't necessarily in our bingo cards.
To quote a famous line from the first film, "Are you not entertained?!"
Gladiator II opens November 22 in theaters.
