Gladiator 2 star Paul Mescal recently discussed why he will not share his workout routine for the upcoming sequel. Beginning his acting career on stage with productions of The Great Gatsby and The Red Shoes, it was only in 2020 that Mescal transitioned feature films with his debut in the Maggie Gyllenhaal-directed drama, The Lost Daughter. He has since appeared in three films including Aftersun, God’s Creatures, and Carmen.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Mescal revealed why he will never share his workout journey for the highly anticipated Gladiator 2 with anyone. The actor believes that there tends to be a “focus” on the physical appearance of an actor for major features including superhero action tent pole movies. Mescal wants to portray the character honestly and aims for a physique that matches the role. Read what he said below:
With films like this and superhero films, there is sometimes a focus on that, which I don’t find that interesting. Of course, there’s a physical robustness required for the character, but past that, I’m not interested. This guy’s got to fight and got to be a beast. And whatever that looks and feels like is right for me, is what it’s going to be.
Sometimes I see films and I’m like, “That person doesn’t look real.”
Everything We Know About Gladiator 2
The upcoming film is to be a sequel of the 2000 blockbuster sword-and-sandal epic Gladiator which saw Russell Crowe star as Hispano-Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in 180 AD. The movie went on to win five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe. Director Ridley Scott previously revealed that the screenplay for the sequel has already been penned and he will direct.
According to Scott, Gladiator 2 will pick up decades after the events of the preceding film and will focus on Lucius’ (Mescal) journey as Emperor of Rome. He is the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and Maximus. After a two-week delay due to a scheduling conflict with Mescal’s stage performance of A Streetcar Named Desire, filming is expected to begin in the summer.
No additional casting announcements have been made. Due to the fates of both Maximus and Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) at the end of Gladiator, it is unlikely that Crowe or Phoenix will reprise their roles in the film. However, with Lucilla still alive at the film’s conclusion, there is still a chance for Nielsen’s return. Gladiator 2 is expected to premiere in theaters November 22, 2024.
Source: THR