Alert – Paul Mescal addresses the audience at a BAFTA Hosts special screening of Gladiator II before cutting a sharp figure at the Governors Awards – as sequel film smashes box office record

Paul Mescal looked in good spirits on Sunday as he addressed the audience at the BAFTA Hosts special screening of Gladiator II at Paramount Theatre, Los Angeles.

The Irish actor, 28, who takes the leading role playing Lucius Verus in the Ridley Scott blockbuster, looked smart in a burgundy zip-up top as he spoke into the microphone at the event.

Paul, who added a black trousers and brown boots to his look, was joined fellow Gladiator II actors Connie Nielsen (Lucilla) and Fred Hechinger (Emperor Caracalla) as they discussed the sequel film. 

It was a busy time for Paul as he later got suited and booted for the star-studded Governors Awards held at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood.

The film star looked sharp in a black suit and vintage-inspired lace-up white shirt as he mingled with his co-stars and other Hollywood greats as the glitzy ceremony.

Paul oozed confidence as he casually posed with his hand in his pocket on the red carpet. 

Paul Mescal looked in good spirits on Sunday as he addressed the audience at the BAFTA Hosts special screening of Gladiator II at Paramount Theatre, Los Angeles 

It was a busy time for Paul as he later got suited and booted for the star-studded Governors Awards held at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood

The Normal People star’s smile comes as his latest project smashed a box office record following its opening weekend [pictured in Gladiator II]

He flashed a charming smile for the cameras while rubbing shoulders with the likes of Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Lawrence.  

The Governors Awards, a prestigious honor bestowed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, recognize extraordinary lifetime achievement in cinema and exceptional contributions to the film industry. 

The Normal People star’s smile comes as his latest project smashed a box office record following its opening weekend. 

Gladiator II debuted with a estimated $87m at the international box office, which broke the record as the biggest overseas opening for any Ridley Scott film.

The filmmaker, 86, in known for his high-grossing films including the original Gladiator ($465 million globally), Prometheus ($403 million) and The Martian ($630 million globally).

As well as surpassing other opening weekends for Ridley Scot, Gladiator II also ranked as the highest international opening weekend for a R-rated film Paramount Pictures, according to Variety.

Gladiator II follows Lucius Verus (Paul), the former heir to the Roman Empire who is forced into slavery and eventually pushed to fight in the Colosseum in an effort to restore glory.

With Russell Crowe’s legendary Maximus 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).

The Irish actor, 28, who takes the leading role playing Lucius Verus in the Ridley Scott blockbuster, looked smart in a burgundy zip-up top as he spoke into the microphone at the event

Paul was all smiles as he sat at the event

Paul, who added a black trousers and brown boots to his look, was joined fellow Gladiator II actors Connie Nielsen (Lucilla) and Fred Hechinger (Emperor Caracalla) as they discussed the sequel film

The Irish hunk looked chilled as he sat alongside his co-stars

The film star looked sharp in a black suit and vintage-inspired lace-up white shirt as he mingled with his co-stars and other Hollywood greats as the glitzy ceremony

Paul oozed confidence as he casually posed with his hand in his pocket on the red carpet

He flashed a charming smile for the cameras while rubbing shoulders with the likes of Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Lawrence.

Gladiator II debuted with a estimated $87m at the international box office, which broke the record as the biggest overseas opening for any Ridley Scott film 

As part of Lucius’ plan for revenge, he risks his life to fight in the arena for Macrinus (Washington), a former slave. 

Macrinus’ uses Lucius as part of his plan to overthrow the dual emperors Geta and Caracalla, as he hopes to assume their throne.

It comes as Gladiator II critics have declared that Denzel Washington ‘stole the entire’ picture as they heaped praise on his electrifying performance.

Though Paul takes the lead in the action-packed blockbuster as the vengeful Roman Empire heir-turned-Gladiator, it’s Denzel’s portrayal as the sly and ambitious Mecrinus that has everyone talking.

The Hollywood star, 69, has been lauded for his ‘pure camp’ line delivery, with it being said that Denzel is ‘palpably revelling’ in playing the ‘smug, self-satisfied schemer.’

Meanwhile, Paul, who first shot to fame in 2020’s Normal People, is said to be the ‘pumping heart of the movie’ who ‘exudes charisma and testosterone’.

Though critics have been somewhat divided by Scott’s latest offering with some noting that it doesn’t quite live up to the film’s original, overall, Gladiator II has been seen as a triumph, with one noting that it’s ‘watchable and spectacular’.