Paul Mescal bulks up for epic 'Gladiator 2' role
He starred in "Normal People" and "Aftersun," and now he will appear in the second installment of "Gladiator." To become a worthy successor to Russell Crowe, Mescal had to gain a lot of muscle mass, and he's eager to talk about it.
3:32 PM EST, November 13, 2024
In those productions, the characters played by Paul Mescal are far from being muscular. However, the actor took on a unique challenge to become Lucius, the son of the legendary Maximus from the first installment of "Gladiator." When no one expected a sequel to this story, Ridley Scott delivers a second film, aiming for it to be an epic, brutal spectacle with acting performances designed to leave the audience in awe. But first, Mescal had to lift some heavy weights.
Paul Mescal "transformed" himself for his role in "Gladiator 2"
The actor admitted that extensive gym preparations preceded the on-set work. "You start feeling like your body can inflict damage," he commented in an interview with "The Sun." "I ate a lot of chicken and lifted heavy things. I was working with a trainer who circled me like a shark and said 'There is a canvas to work with,'" Mescal said.
The actor jokingly revealed that he didn't fully adhere to the strict regimen set by his trainer Tim Blakeley and the nutritionists hired by the production. He confessed that the plan required him to quit smoking and drinking alcohol completely to achieve even better results with his physique. However, he drew the line there. "I did everything he asked but I like to drink, and I like to smoke so I drew a line in the sand where those were concerned," the actor admitted.
A few months ago, Mescal admitted in an interview with "Vanity Fair" that he wasn't concerned about undergoing such a body transformation to become—what he notes—a beauty symbol. "I just wanted to be big and strong and look like somebody who can cause a bit of damage," he said.
"I think also, sometimes, one could, in striving for that perfect look, end up looking more like an underwear model than a warrior," he added. "Muscles start to grow, and that can be deemed aesthetic in certain capacities, but there is something about feeling strong in your body that elicits just a different feeling. You carry yourself differently. It has an impact on you psychologically in a way that is useful for the film," the actor explained.
The effects of the training will be visible in American theaters on November 15. The film, as assured by the first viewers, is a grand, brutal spectacle. Curious?
