20 Movie Roles That Were Insanely Miscast

18. Paul Mescal - Gladiator II

The curious case of Paul Mescal in Gladiator II is proof perfect that even incredibly good actors can't beat devastating miscasting.

Mescal, hot off a Best Actor Oscar nomination for Aftersun, was cast in the lead role of Lucius Verus - the son of Russell Crowe's original protagonist Maximus Decimus Meridius.

First and foremost, Mescal simply lacks the commanding presence that the part so desperately requires, which combined with the character being rather thinly written, leaves him coming off woefully flat.

It doesn't help that Lucius is considerably less interesting than Denzel Washington's scenery-devouring antagonist Macrinus, but even so, a more naturally charismatic performer was needed to stand toe-to-toe with him.

And that's hardly a knock on Mescal, who has shown himself time and time again to be a fantastic actor in more restrained, emotionally intense dramatic roles - just not as the badass lead of a frothy, broad-skewing historical epic.