GladiatorStar Spencer Treat Clark 'Excited' to See Paul Mescal as His Character's Adult Version in Sequel (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

From L: Spencer Treat Clark inGladiator(2000); Paul Mescal inGladiator II(2024).Photo:Alamy; Paramount Pictures

Alamy; Paramount Pictures

Spencer Treat Clarkis happy to pass the sword toPaul MescalinGladiator II.The 37-year-old actor, who played Mescal’s character Lucius Verus as a child in the original 2000Gladiatorfilm, tells PEOPLE that he recently watched the trailer forRidley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel.“The movie looks so good, and Paul’s going to do such a great job,” Clark says of Mescal, 28, in a chat surrounding his own newly released filmSalem’s Lot, which is nowstreaming on Max. “I’ve actually heard great things about the movie.“He also notes that he made the firstGladiator"25 years ago,” which is something he feels like “people forget.” For Clark, though, “I feel like it was 25 years ago, but for some people, seeing me as an adult and being like, ‘Oh my God, you’re right. You were Lucius inGladiator,’ is so wild.““But I’m really excited to see the movie and tosee what Paul brings to it,” he adds of the sequel. “And yeah, it comes out soon. So I’m excited for it.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal inGladiator II(2024).Paramount PicturesGladiator IIpicks up whereGladiatorleft off, with a new fighter: Lucius, who is the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and nephew of her brother Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), ready to enter the arena.Scott, 86, made the decision for Mescal to lead the new movie after watching him in 2020’sNormal People.The cast also includes Nielsen, 59, andDerek Jacobi, reprising their roles, plusDenzel Washington,Pedro Pascal,Joseph Quinnand Fred Hechinger.Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at theAlien: Romuluspremiere on Aug. 12, Scott gave some insight into what fans can expect from the sequel to the May 2000 original.“It’sas good as the first one,” the filmmaker said at the time. “I didn’t say better. It’s as good.”The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Scott also recently toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat he already has his sights set on a third film, despite the sequel still being nearly two months away from its premiere.“There’s already an idea,” he said, noting that his concept for a thirdGladiatormovie takes inspiration fromFrancis Ford Coppola’s 1974 epicThe Godfather Part II.Scott, whose secondGladiatorfilm comes 24 years afterRussell Croweled the franchise’s initial entry, similarly invokedThe GodfatherPart IIwhile teasing a third film to French outletPremiere.“I’m already toying with the idea of ​​Gladiator III,” he told that outlet, hinting thatGladiator II’s ending “is reminiscent of” the end of Coppola’s 1972 originalGodfatherfilm, withAl Pacino’s Michael Corleone unhappily leading his family’s criminal empire into the future.“So the next [film] will be about a man who doesn’t want to be where he is,” Scott toldPremiereof the concept.Gladiator IIis in theaters Nov. 22.

Spencer Treat Clarkis happy to pass the sword toPaul MescalinGladiator II.

The 37-year-old actor, who played Mescal’s character Lucius Verus as a child in the original 2000Gladiatorfilm, tells PEOPLE that he recently watched the trailer forRidley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel.

“The movie looks so good, and Paul’s going to do such a great job,” Clark says of Mescal, 28, in a chat surrounding his own newly released filmSalem’s Lot, which is nowstreaming on Max. “I’ve actually heard great things about the movie.”

He also notes that he made the firstGladiator"25 years ago,” which is something he feels like “people forget.” For Clark, though, “I feel like it was 25 years ago, but for some people, seeing me as an adult and being like, ‘Oh my God, you’re right. You were Lucius inGladiator,’ is so wild.”

“But I’m really excited to see the movie and tosee what Paul brings to it,” he adds of the sequel. “And yeah, it comes out soon. So I’m excited for it.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal inGladiator II(2024).Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures

Gladiator IIpicks up whereGladiatorleft off, with a new fighter: Lucius, who is the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and nephew of her brother Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), ready to enter the arena.

Scott, 86, made the decision for Mescal to lead the new movie after watching him in 2020’sNormal People.The cast also includes Nielsen, 59, andDerek Jacobi, reprising their roles, plusDenzel Washington,Pedro Pascal,Joseph Quinnand Fred Hechinger.

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at theAlien: Romuluspremiere on Aug. 12, Scott gave some insight into what fans can expect from the sequel to the May 2000 original.

“It’sas good as the first one,” the filmmaker said at the time. “I didn’t say better. It’s as good.”

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Scott also recently toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat he already has his sights set on a third film, despite the sequel still being nearly two months away from its premiere.

“There’s already an idea,” he said, noting that his concept for a thirdGladiatormovie takes inspiration fromFrancis Ford Coppola’s 1974 epicThe Godfather Part II.

Scott, whose secondGladiatorfilm comes 24 years afterRussell Croweled the franchise’s initial entry, similarly invokedThe GodfatherPart IIwhile teasing a third film to French outletPremiere.

“I’m already toying with the idea of ​​Gladiator III,” he told that outlet, hinting thatGladiator II’s ending “is reminiscent of” the end of Coppola’s 1972 originalGodfatherfilm, withAl Pacino’s Michael Corleone unhappily leading his family’s criminal empire into the future.

“So the next [film] will be about a man who doesn’t want to be where he is,” Scott toldPremiereof the concept.

Gladiator IIis in theaters Nov. 22.

source: people.com