SNL Recap: Paul Mescal Sings a Parody of ‘Wicked’ in ‘Gladiator II’

Paul Mescal rethought Gladiator II became a musical sensation during his Saturday Night Live Debut, and yes, you read that correctly.

“Gladiator II is a hit grossing over $300 million worldwide, but then we saw the huge success of Moana 2 And Evilsaid a voiceover announcer during the Saturday, December 7, sketch. “So, after a few hasty reshoots, Gladiator II is now…a musical.”

The voice continued: “It’s the same violent historical epic that audiences rave about, but with an extra 50 minutes of songs.”

Mescal, 28, teammate Gladiator IIa sequel to the 2000 film Pedro Mescal And Denzel Washington. The film was released late last month on the same day as the movie musical Evil. A sequel to Disney’s animated film Moanain the meantime, came to theaters a few days later.

Mescal repeated his Gladiator II Roll up SNL for a preset number. Mescal sang alongside the vaudeville performers against the backdrop of grueling Roman battles.

“There is no place like Rome” Kenan Thompson sung. “Swords and sandals / Whores and scandals / And empires that stretch from east to west.”

Mescal agreed and chimed in, “Yeah, I think I’ll like it here.”

The Normal people Alum also got his own solo track while his character checked his reflection in a sword.

“One look at me / and all they see / is a killing machine,” Mescal complained. “But they don’t know / So far down / I’m so much more than I see.”

He added: “They call me gladiator / They call me slave / They call me a murderer / But one day they’ll know my name.” / I’ll make my way to freedom / I’ll make my way to the next act / Now, while I’m in the Colosseum / When I go on the attack. / One day they will know my name.”

In addition to Mescal’s breathtaking monologue, the fake trailer included “a song for the women” (aka a ballad, sung by Jane Wickline, who pretends to be one of the soldiers’ wives waiting for his safe return) and a HamiltonRap style. (Lin Manuel Mirandawho wrote the Tony winner Hamiltonalso wrote the music for Moana but not its sequel.)

“Look at the little things he got with winning the Cup,” Mescal said during a mock rap battle with Mikey Dayis the fictional emperor. “Sit down, give a thumbs up.”

Mescal and Day, 44, then challenged each other to a “floss” dance competition.

The trailer is of course also a homage Evil even with Mescal riding a broom and wearing a classic witch hat. He let loose Cynthia Erivo‘s high note “Defying Gravity” as he sings the line “No place like Rome” at the end of the skit.

Saturday’s episode also featured musical performances from the 2025 Grammy nominee Shaboozey and a surprise cameo from the social media star Trisha Paytaswho played herself in a skit about the 2024 Spotify Wrapped list.

Elsewhere in the episode, Mescal used his monologue to talk about his love of filming dramatic and nude scenes. Another highlight occurred for Mescal and the men SNL played pirate entertainer at a bachelor party. (And yes, Mescal briefly ripped open his shirt at the end.)

Saturday Night Live airs Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC.