Paul Mescal | The Movie My Life

Hamnet (2025), Paul Mescal Focus Features

Directed and co-written by Chloé Zhao, Hamnet is the story of the events in the life of highly regarded English playwright, William Shakespeare; a time that inspired his timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.

Paul Mescal, Jessie Buckley, Zac Wishart and Joe Alwyn star.

An emotional slog is what this looks like. Still, I’m interested to see a promising dramatisation of part of Shakespeare’s personal story. One that’s produced by Sam Mendes and Steven Spielberg, no less.

I’m going to re-familiarise myself with Hamlet, before watching this. Until then, a thought:

‘Art, beautiful art, that wondrous gift with the glorious power to help us heal in countless ways.’

Will you be watching?

James Lintern, James Lintern, Joe Alwyn, Justine Mitchell, Eva Wishart, Emily Watson, David Wilmot, Dainton AndersonLouisa Harland, Smylie Bradwell and Faith Delaney also star.

Hamnet Release Dates: December 12th 2025 (US); January 9th, 2026

Happy Film Loving,

Ridley Scott’s epic Gladiator (2000) finally has a sequel and it stars Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn, Pedro Pascal and Connie Nielsen.

Following Maximus’s death, the story picks up with Lucius, the son of Maximus’s love Lucilla.

I’ll start by saying that the original Gladiator film is the first movie I watched that was so impressive that it left me speechless. Now that I have seen the trailer for the follow-up, as harsh as it sounds, it appears I may be wise to lower my expectations.

Much of this trailer just isn’t clicking for me right now, and that’s before mentioning the ill-advised soundtrack.

As wonderful as the actors are, I’m not getting the expected epic vibe as I watch this. Dare I say, so far, Gladiator II is feeling oddly lower budget. Plus, I already miss Russell Crowe’s Maximus Decimus Meridius.

It also looks like I’ll have to see one more Pedro Pascal character slain in another one-on-one battle, just like his much-loved Oberyn (my favourite character) in Game of Thrones. That’s not necessarily something I want to see again.

With all the above in mind, I may have to hold back before I buy my ticket. I hope I’m wrong – and may well be. But what do you think?

Fred Hechinger, Alexander Karim, Derek Jacobi, Chidi Ajufo, Peter Mensah, Rory McCann, Riana Duce, May Calamawy, Tim McInnerny, Alec Utgoff and Matt Lucas also star.

Gladiator II Release Dates: November 15th 2024 (UK); November 22nd, 2024 (US)…

Happy Film Loving,

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