Irish stars and fans arrive for the premiere of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II at the Lighthouse Cinema in Dublin on Thursday.
Kildare plays Lucius in the film alongside actor Paul Mescal, co-star and two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington.
Sir Ridley’s 2000 film debut, starring Russell Crowe as soldier-turned-gladiator Maximus, won five Oscars, including Best Actor and Best Picture.
Gladiator II is scheduled to be released in the UK and Ireland on November 15.
Speaking to RTÉ, Mescal expressed his appreciation for the fans, saying, “He’s always amazed by the Irish fans who come and stand and wait to meet us.”
Mescal expressed his joy at being back in his country, saying: “I’m proud to be Irish originally, so that feeling when you come home is very hard to put into words.”
Acknowledging the current crop of Irish stars, he said, “Whatever is in the water at the moment for Irish actors has to fall within these boundaries,” adding that he is working on a film with other talent from the island. Would love to do. Cillian Murphy and Saoirse Ronan.
Mescal also praised the director: “It’s very difficult to put into words the fact that I have the opportunity to work with Ridley Scott in one of his best films.”
Mescal’s co-stars Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal were not in Dublin, but Magarlin’s Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Daniel Wiffen was on the red carpet.
The Olympian told RTÉ when He won gold in ParisHis celebration was inspired by the first film, Russell Crowe, which came out in 2000.
Wiffen made history in Paris in July when he became the first athlete from Northern Ireland to win Olympic gold in 36 years.
