Paul Mescal reveals he ‘loved’ the brutal training for Gladiator 2

Paul Mescal has revealed that he ‘loved’ the training for Gladiator 2 despite how gruelling it was physically.

Due for release later this year, the Irish actor, 28, takes on the role of Roman Empire Lucius Verus, the grown-up son of Lucilla, portrayed as a child in the Oscar-winning original from 2000 starring Russell Crowe.

And speaking in a new interview on Capital Radio with Jordan North on Tuesday, Paul said that the brutal schedule and physical nature of filming was merely a ‘first world problem’. 

Jordan asked him of preparing for the huge blockbuster: ‘Was it a hard, brutal schedule or was it okay when you could just eat everything you wanted?’

Paul then replied: ‘It’s a first world problem. Like I had every amenity available to me. I had a great trainer. People telling me what and when to eat. 

‘And I think it’s just a by-product. You have to train hard to be in a film like this and I kind of loved it. Of course, it gets tiresome at certain moments.’

It comes after Paul was seen shirtless with a burlap skirt on and gold cuffs on his wrists in his trailer while on the set of Gladiator 2.

The image was shared by his costar Pedro Pascal on social media on Monday. Paul plays Lucius and Pedro is Marcus Acacius.

In the shot, Paul smiles while wearing a fake scar and a slight beard with his locks in disarray.

Pedro captioned the snap, along with a poster for the film, ‘Come and get it. #Gladiator2 November 22.’

Fans flocked to the comments section to share their thoughts on the photo, with one user writing, ‘This is a lot for a Monday,’ while another chimed in, ‘Let’s get em papa.’

The long-awaited Gladiator sequel, directed by Ridley Scott, will debut 24 years after the original historical film aired in 2000. 

At the time, the OG flick won five Oscars from its 11 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe’s portrayal of gladiator Maximus.

Gladiator 2 centers on the 28-year-old’s character, Lucius Verus, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen).

Viewers will now see Lucius all grown up, with the story taking place years after the first film ended.

Fans of the series will remember that Lucius is also the nephew of Marcus’ son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), who killed his father to seize the throne. 

In Gladiator, Commodus fought Maximus in the gladiator ring and became mortally wounded. 

However, the warrior managed to puncture the emperor and save the young boy and his mother while avenging his own wife and son’s death, something that made a lasting impact on Lucius. 

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The star-studded cast also includes Denzel Washington, Derek Jacobi, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, and Lior Raz.

David Scarpa scripted the sequel, while Ridley, Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher, Michael Pruss and David Franzoni produced the film.

Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald, Raymond Kirk, and Aidan Elliott also serve as executive producers. 

In a first look at the film, Paul sported a full suit of armor in one scene, while blood dripped down his face and dirt covered his arm. 

Another image showed the Irish actor wielding a sword as he prepared for battle.

A third shot showed Pedro in the gladiator ring, mid-action, as a sword comes his way. 

Talking to Vanity Fair earlier this month, Paul described his character as ‘a very, very good general, which can mean a very good killer.’ 

‘I just wanted to be big and strong and look like somebody who can cause a bit of damage when shit hits the fan,’ he continued about physically preparing for the role. ‘I think also, sometimes, one could, in striving for that perfect look, end up looking more like an underwear model than a warrior.’

And getting in shape gave Paul a stronger sense of self.

‘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,’ the Aftersun actor noted. 

‘It has an impact on you psychologically in a way that is useful for the film.’

Pedro also chimed in about going up against his costar in Gladiator 2.

‘It’s brutal, man. I call him Brick Wall Paul,’ the 49-year-old confessed to the outlet.

‘He got so strong. I would rather be thrown from a building than have to fight him again. 

‘To go up against somebody that fit and that talented and that much younger… Outside of Ridley being a total genius, Paul is a big reason as to why I would put my poor body through that experience.’

As for why Paul himself said yes to the grueling role? As he put it to AnOther Magazine in February, ‘Gladiator 2 comes across your desk and there’s no way you say no to it.’

The All of Us Strangers alum added: ‘But with this scale of film, and to work with Ridley Scott, it’s a no-brainer. Up until this point there have been very few larger films that remotely interested me.’

Paul reflected: ‘It feels really right. And also there’s the capacity to learn. It’s the first time that I’ve felt a pressure of, ‘God, I’m worried about box office receipts.’ 

‘It’s a different metric. But Ridley shoots at a very different rhythm – he’s quick and it’s kinetic and wonderful. He knows exactly what he wants. It honestly reminds me of sport in a way that is really satisfying.’