Irish star Paul Mescal bluntly appraises his meeting with the King

Irish histrion Paul Mescal says gathering King Charles was not connected his "list of priorities".

The 28-year-old prima was introduced to the reigning monarch astatine the Gladiator II satellite premiere connected Wednesday.

The humanities epic picks up 20 years aft the Oscar-winning original, and marks Mescal's archetypal large workplace movie aft occurrence successful TV and autarkic film, playing Roman warrior Lucius Verus.

Talking astir his brushwood with royalty connected the reddish carpet of the film's Los Angeles premiere connected Monday, Mescal told US outlet Variety helium did not spot it coming.

He said: "How chaotic is it? It's decidedly not thing that I thought was successful the bingo cards.

"I'm Irish, truthful it's not connected the database of priorities".

He past swiftly turned the reply to the film's 86-year-old director, Ridley Scott, saying: "It's an astonishing happening for Ridley due to the fact that I cognize however important that is for him.

"So, to spot his movie celebrated successful that discourse was beauteous special."

Ahead of the premiere, some Mescal and Scott had enjoyed a champagne reception astatine Buckingham Palace, and truthful were already successful a celebratory temper connected their arrival.

Due to the ample fig of radical astatine the event, Mescal admitted it was besides hard to perceive what was being said during his speech with the King, truthful helium was "nodding on and smiling".

The satellite premiere was held successful assistance of the Film and TV Charity, which celebrates its 100th day this year, and marked the archetypal premiere Charles attended arsenic King.

The King besides met with Mescal's co-stars including Oscar-winner Denzel Washington and Narcos histrion Pedro Pascal.

Other celebrities to be included histrion Joseph Fiennes and TV presenter Claudia Winkleman.

Reviews of the movie person been mixed acknowledgment to its more-is-more cognition to CGI and OTT storylines, but determination is wide statement that audiences volition permission the cinema somewhat entertained.

Speaking to Sky News astatine the London event, Mescal said being portion of the movie was a "wildly... overwhelming" experience".

Sir Ridley - who formed Mescal successful the relation aft a little Zoom chat with the histrion - told Sky News his crushed for choosing him was that helium saw aspects of "a young Albert Finney" successful him.

The archetypal Gladiator starred Russell Crowe arsenic Roman wide Maximus Decimus Meridius. The Australian actor does not instrumentality for the sequel.

Joaquin Phoenix besides had a starring relation successful the archetypal film, which Scott aboriginal admitted helium nearly walked retired of.

Both Mescal and Scott person teased that they would some beryllium up for a 3rd film.

Gladiator II is successful cinemas now.