Timothée Chalamet was the star of “Gladiator II” – then Ridley Scott watched “Normal People”

When you’re one of Hollywood’s few remaining movie stars, it’s no surprise that your name pops up for every leading role in town. Such is the life of Timothée Chalamet, whose schedule this year includes the release of Dune II, the filming of A Complete Unknown, the start of an awards campaign for Best Actress and the start of production on Josh Safdie’s A Complete “Unknown” belonged. Marty Supreme.” As if that wasn’t enough, Ridley Scott recently shared in an article for The Hollywood Reporter that Chalamet was considered for the role of Lucius for a while, a role that ultimately went to Paul Mescal after the director made his appearance in “Normal People.”

“Any studio would always prefer to have a well-known star,” Scott’s producer Doug Wick told THR. Since Mescal only appeared in indie features such as Aftersun and All of Us Strangers, winning awards for both, he was not as well-known at the box office as Chalamet. However, after the film’s Paramount co-presidents Daria Cercek and Michael Ireland saw Mescal as Stanley Kowalski in a West End revival of “A Streetcar Named Desire” (at New York’s BAM in February), Wick said that They both agreed on “nothing else.” The actor came close.”

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In a recent panel moderated by IndieWire’s Jim Hemphill, Scott detailed how he came across “Normal People” and was captivated by the performances, even though the material didn’t captivate him.

“I need bedtime stories. Before I go to bed, I always watch something. “I caught “Normal People” almost by accident,” Scott said. “It wasn’t really my thing, but I watched two and thought both the guy and the girl were great. Then I ate for eight hours.”

Scott was sure Mescal was his man after watching “Normal People,” and Mescal didn’t hesitate to enter the arena with him. He recognized the impact this major would have on his career, but felt it was the right type of project for his feelings. “I might have been hesitant about what would be the first major studio film because it shows your attitude as an actor,” Mescal told THR, acknowledging the potential to be classified as an action film in the future. Hero. “(But) a film like ‘Gladiator II’ is the dream in terms of studio and major films because it’s in the hands of Ridley and it’s rooted in the human condition and has a very clear emotional language.”

Mescal has now found comfort with the director after filming the film together as he plans to star in another project for Scott titled Dog Stars. The film’s screenplay is adapted by Mark L. Smith based on Peter Heller’s 2012 apocalyptic thriller and follows a pilot and a former Marine trying to survive after a pandemic that decimated American society.

Paramount Pictures’ “Gladiator II” is in theaters now.

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