Paul Mescal’s exercise journey for Gladiator 2 wasn’t about chasing the proper “Hollywood” physique—it was all about realism. The actor, set to play a grown-up Lucius in Ridley Scott’s extremely anticipated sequel, made it clear he wouldn’t be sharing the specifics of his health routine.
Why? As a result of for Mescal, trying like a warrior mattered greater than trying like an Instagram mannequin. He believes the concentrate on bodily aesthetics in superhero and motion motion pictures can typically overshadow authenticity. “With movies like this and superhero movies, there may be generally a concentrate on that, which I don’t discover attention-grabbing,” Mescal defined in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
Mescal’s objective wasn’t to attain the modern, polished look typically seen in motion stars; as a substitute, he aimed for one thing extra rugged. “I simply wished to be massive and powerful and appear like someone who could cause a bit of harm when shit hits the fan,” he added. And that’s exactly what his bodily transformation is all about: embodying the character somewhat than conforming to fashionable magnificence requirements. His transformation required a shift in mindset. “Typically I see movies, and I’m like, ‘That particular person doesn’t look actual,’” he alluded, acknowledging how important it was for his function to really feel grounded and correct to the traditional world.
Gladiator 2 picks up a long time after the occasions of the 2000 blockbuster, which starred Russell Crowe as Maximus. Mescal’s character, Lucius, is now the Emperor of Rome, and his journey has taken a way more bodily flip. Mescal educated intensely, however not for vainness. “Muscle groups begin to develop, and that may be deemed aesthetic in sure capacities, however there’s something about feeling sturdy in your physique that elicits a unique feeling,” he shared. It wasn’t nearly trying the half—it was about being the half and carrying the load of Lucius’ legacy.
However whereas Mescal embraced the problem of constructing energy, there was some stuff he wasn’t keen to surrender for his function. “I prefer to drink, and I prefer to smoke,” he confessed throughout an look on The Graham Norton Present. Regardless of his dedication to health, he drew the road at ditching his vices fully. “It’s all about stability,” he added, revealing that he nonetheless loved a drink whereas working together with his coach. Whereas he caught to a food regimen of “lots of rooster” and hit the health club onerous, he discovered a technique to keep a way of private normalcy.
Mescal’s method to the function was about extra than simply constructing muscle. It was about discovering energy in a physique that felt genuine to the character. And whereas he won’t be sharing his actual exercise routine anytime quickly, it’s evident that Mescal put within the work—bodily and mentally—to rework into the gladiator Lucius must be.
Mescal’s function in Gladiator 2 got here after a quick but impactful dialog with Ridley Scott over Zoom. What began as a 30-minute chat, which included talks about Gaelic soccer and Scott’s canine, ended with a suggestion for the function. “Ridley doesn’t waste time,” Mescal stated. This intestine intuition led Scott to solid Mescal, and it’s exactly that very same intuition that Mescal channeled into his transformation for the movie.
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