Gladiator II actor Paul Mescal enjoys sights of Sydney from hotel balcony

Gladiator II star Paul Mescal has been spotted soaking up Sydney Harbour views from his hotel balcony amid his Aussie media blitz.

Paul Mescal has been spotted enjoying some down time amid his Australian media blitz for the hotly-anticipated Gladiator sequel.

The Irish actor, 28, who stars in Ridley Scott’s long-awaited Gladiator II opposite Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal, was photographed soaking up the views from the balcony of his hotel room, which overlooks Sydney Harbour, on Thursday afternoon.

Embracing the balmy sunshine, Mescal was pictured shirtless during the balcony session, where he was joined by two unidentified women.

Paul Mescal is pictured shirtless on his Sydney hotel balcony on Thursday afternoon. Picture: KHAP/BACKGRID

Mescal enjoyed some down time amid his busy promo schedule for Gladiator II. Picture: KHAP/BACKGRID

Mescal arrived in Australia earlier this week, attending the film’s premiere at Darling Harbour Theatre on Wednesday night.

The Normal People actor has had a crammed interview schedule since his arrival, sitting down with most major media outlets in a bid to publicise the historical epic, which will hit cinemas November 14.

Mescal interacts with fans during the Australian Premiere of "Gladiator II" at Darling Harbour Theatre. Picture: James Gourley/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

Mescal walked the red carpet in Sydney. Picture: Matrix Media Group

The original Gladiator was released in 2000, winning five Academy Awards including the coveted Best Picture gong, as well as Best Actor for Australian Russell Crowe.

Aside from dominating award season, the movie was a commercial success, making $US465.4 million at the global box office. It has since endured as a cult classic.

The sequel picks up more than two decades after the events of the first film with Lucius (Mescal), the grandson of Rome’s former emperor Marcus Aurelius (played by Richard Harris in Gladiator) and son of Maximus (Crowe) and Lucilla (Connie Nielsen).

Mescal plays Lucius in Gladiator II. Picture: Paramount Pictures

Now grown, Lucius lives with his wife and child in Numidia, northwest Africa, where his mother Lucilla sent him to live a more peaceful life away from Rome corruption.

But, similar to the story of his father, Roman forces led by General Marcus Acacius (Pascal) soon take Lucius captive, where he is forced into slavery and ultimately, into the gladiator arena.

The follow-up film has certainly proved a costly endeavour, with reports Gladiator II had a production budget of $US250 million.

Gladiator II hits cinemas in Australia November 14.

Originally published as Gladiator II actor Paul Mescal enjoys sights of Sydney from hotel balcony