Paul Mescal is starring in one of the world’s biggest movies, but he has his eye on a much more intimate role.
MailOnline can reveal the Irish actor, whose film Gladiator II comes out next week, is set to reprise his acclaimed performance as Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire on Broadway in 2025.
It will be the Oscar-nominated actor’s debut on an American stage. When he played the role in London’s West End last year he won a prestigious Olivier Award for best actor.
Critics praised his portrayal for bringing a fresh ‘swagger’ to the character, managing to step out of the ‘towering shadow’ of Marlon Brando, who first made famous the role on stage and screen.
According to industry sources, the 28-year-old, who rose to fame as Connel Waldron in the BBC’s lockdown smash hit Normal People, is eager to return to the stage in New York.
Paul Mescal is starring in one of the world’s biggest movies, but he has his eye on a much more intimate role
MailOnline can reveal the Irish actor, whose film Gladiator II comes out next week, is set to reprise his acclaimed performance as Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire on Broadway in 2025
According to industry sources, Mescal is eager to return to the stage in New York. ‘Paul loves the art of theatre,’ one source told MailOnline. ‘Despite his fame, he’s actually quite shy, with a close-knit group of friends. He feels more at home on stage than in front of the camera, which is why Broadway really appeals to him’
‘Paul loves the art of theatre,’ one source told MailOnline.
‘Despite his fame, he’s actually quite shy, with a close-knit group of friends. He feels more at home on stage than in front of the camera, which is why Broadway really appeals to him.
‘Streetcar has a special place in his heart. He really can’t wait to show American audiences what he’s got.’
It has not been confirmed if his previous co-star, Patsy Ferran, will reprise her role as Blanche.
Meanwhile, Mescal’s father, Paul Senior, recently made his acting debut as Seamie McDaid, a disgruntled bar owner, in the new play Are Ya Dancin’? – A Showband Story.
The All Of Us Strangers performer has previously shared his comfort with stage work: ‘I feel at ease with my masculinity on stage.’
He hinted in an interview with The Times this week that he might pursue ‘arthouse’ theatre work if the fame from Gladiator II feels overwhelming.
It comes as Mescal said he transformed his body so thoroughly for his Gladiator II role, that he felt he could ‘could inflict real damage’.
He told The Sun: ‘It changes the way you move and operate. And that’s a fun kind of place to live when it’s make-believe.’
It will be the Oscar-nominated actor’s debut on an American stage. When he played the role in London’s West End last year he won a prestigious Olivier Award for best actor
The All Of Us Strangers performer has previously shared his comfort with stage work: ‘I feel at ease with my masculinity on stage’
In the new Ridley Scott movie, the actor plays the son of Russell Crowe’s legendary Maximus.
Although the character is long-since dead and buried, it is vengeful Lucius (Paul) who must fight for his liberty in the film after being taken into slavery and ripped away from his wife and daughter by general Marcus (Pedro Pascal).
Gladiator II takes place several decades after the first instalment, and features Lucius (the son of Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla) who is now living in Numidia, a region of northern Africa.
Although he was sent to Numidia as a child, the film follows Lucius’ return to Rome to reunite with his mother—and coming into conflict as he does so.
The film, which was 20 years in the making has been a hit with critics and fans have praised Paul’s performance.
But the star revealed on The Graham Norton Show that there was a lot of work to make him ready to play such an iconic role.
Of the regime that turned him into a Roman hunk, Paul told Graham: ‘I ate a lot of chicken and lifted heavy things. I was working with a trainer who circled me like a shark and said ‘There is a canvas to work with”.
‘He went to town, and I saw him every day, It was fun,’ before revealing he didn’t totally embrace the strict rules.
MailOnline has reached out to Paul Mescal for comment.
