Paul Mescal shines in ‘SNL’ musical parody of ‘Gladiator II’

Paul Mescal is elevating his Glicked agenda to new heights.

Reimagining Gladiator II as a Musical

Earlier this year, the Normal People alum, Paul Mescal, led the charge in bringing Barbenheimer 2.0 to life upon discovering the conflicting release dates of Wicked and Gladiator II in November. But why stop there? During his debut as a Saturday Night Live host, Mescal delighted viewers by transforming the Roman epic into a full-fledged musical called Gladiator Twosical.

The SNL Musical Spoof

In this SNL sketch, Mescal revisits his role as Lucius Verus Aurelius, but this time, instead of a silent warrior, he sings heartfelt lyrics about his innermost feelings.

“They see a killing machine when they look at me / But beneath the surface, I’m much more,” Mescal croons as he enters the arena. “They label me gladiator, slave, killer / But one day, they’ll know my true name!”

As the musical unfolds, Mescal embarks on a spree of Colosseum battles set to lively tunes, accompanied by a bewildered quote from the film’s director, Ridley Scott, expressing his surprise at the unexpected turn of events.

Collaborative Musical Efforts

Joining Mescal in this grand musical escapade is Kenan Thompson, who channels Denzel Washington to sing about the wonders of Rome. Mikey Day also makes an appearance, engaging in a rap battle with Mescal inspired by the musical styles of Lin Manuel Miranda.

Day’s rap includes lines like, “I’m not a fan of this gladiator, goodbye to this clown, my thumb is pointing down.”

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The sketch culminates in a whimsical flossing session before Mescal takes off on a broom, leaving the Colosseum behind to attempt a rendition of “Defying Gravity” from Wicked.

Witness Mescal’s singing, slaying, and dancing in the Rome-themed SNL sketch above.

FAQs

Q: Who starred in the Gladiator II musical spoof on Saturday Night Live?

A: Paul Mescal took the lead role, accompanied by Kenan Thompson and Mikey Day.

Q: What was the premise of the Gladiator Twosical sketch?

A: The sketch reimagined the Roman epic Gladiator II as a musical, with Mescal’s character singing about his emotions as a gladiator.

Q: How did the SNL sketch conclude?

A: The sketch ended with Mescal attempting a rendition of “Defying Gravity” from Wicked after a lively flossing session.

Credit: ew.com