Paul Mescal meets his doppelganger: ‘This Is Bananas’

On November 21, 2024By Littum

Paul Mescal on November 18, 2024 in Hollywood, CA. - Credit: Maya Dehlin Spach/FilmMagic — Paul Mescal on November 18, 2024 in Hollywood, CA. – Credit: Maya Dehlin Spach/FilmMagic

As pop culture lookalikes take over city parks and social feeds around the world, among them emerged Jack Wall O’Reilly – the Paul Mescal lookalike who won a lookalike contest with his impressive shorts, baseball cap and hoodie earlier this month.

While stopping by Zoe Ball’s BBC Radio 2 Breakfast show next to his Gladiator II co-stars Denzel Washington and Connie Nielsen, Ball introduced Mescal to Wall O’Reilly via video call.

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“These are bananas,” exclaimed Mescal, who laughed. “I saw the picture, you captured me very well.” Referring to O’Reilly’s ode to his signature short shorts, Mescal praised his lookalike: “It was a fully committed look.”

The atrocity prompted a request from Washington, who commented: “Wait, wait. Turn sideways. I want to see the profile!”

Wall O’Reilly said, “Yeah, everybody says it’s the profile,” continuing to turn his head from side to side, eliciting gasps from the studio.

Before signing off, Wall told O’Reilly that he had just graduated with a Masters in screenwriting. “I’m a big fan who has a lot of respect for everybody there,” he said. “Of course Paul, Aftersun is one of my favorite movies. He is a great inspiration to young creative people in Ireland and around the world. And I hope one day, through the appropriate channels, when I have an idea that I am passionate and developed enough that I might be able to bring it to you.”

The actor replied: “Oh Jack, you’re an absolute gentleman. So, so sweet.”

The upcoming Gladiator the sequel starring Mescal, Washington and Nielsen opens in theaters this Friday, serving as a continuation of the original film decades later after its tumultuous ending.

This was told by director Ridley Scott Associated Press that it could be his best film yet. “I think I might be right. I’m not going to count my chickens,” he said. “But it’s pretty (expletive) good.”

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