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Paul Mescal stunned ‘Saturday Night Live’ audiences by transforming his epic historical drama Gladiator II into a whimsical musical with a dash of ‘Wicked’ inspirations, leaving fans craving more of his triple-threat talents.
“Saturday Night Live” took an unexpected twist this weekend with Paul Mescal’s hosting debut, where he re-envisioned his “Gladiator II” character, Lucius, in a skit that rebranded the intense historical epic as a full-fledged musical. Inspired by the blockbuster successes of “Wicked” and “Moana II”, the sketch humorously portrayed a world wherein “Gladiator II” added 50 minutes of musical content.
The episode kicked off with Kenan Thompson serenading audiences with “No Place Like Rome,” an indirect nod to “The Wizard of Oz”. Mescal joined in, crooning, “I’m gonna like it here,” which set the stage for the hilariously reimagined tale.
Mescal’s character, often branded as a mere “killing machine,” revealed a softer, more misunderstood side through melodic verses, chiming, “They look at me and all they see is a killing machine, but they don’t know that far below I’m so much more than I seem.”
The skit expanded to feature contributions from several “SNL” cast members, including Mikey Day as the Roman emperor rapping verses penned by none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda. With lines like, “I don’t mean to be a hater, but I don’t like this gladiator,” the emperor didn’t hold back, all while he and Mescal flossed to the rhythm.
Adding to the humor, a pull-quote from the film’s actual director, Ridley Scott, flashed on-screen, declaring, “I was not told about this.” Another slide offered a review from a notable outlet, “Movies are in such a weird place right now.” Both quotes amplified the comedic absurdity of transforming a gritty Roman epic into a song-and-dance spectacle.
To conclude the sketch, Mescal dramatically exited the Colosseum on a broomstick, belting out a defiant tune reminiscent of “Wicked” iconic song “Defying Gravity,” eliciting laughter and applause from the audience. This final act served as a playful jab at the movie “Wicked”, admitting “Gladiator II: The Musical” was “the same violent epic that audiences have been raving about,” just with added musical flair.
Directed by Ridley Scott, “Gladiator II” hit theatres just before Thanksgiving, but despite its anticipation, it was overtaken at the box office by the juggernaut success of “Wicked”. Still, Mescal’s musical interpretation provided a unique and entertaining spin on the intense film, proving once again that blending genres can result in unexpected and delightful audience reactions.
