Paul Mescal reveals he wanted to look ‘big and strong’ for Gladiator 2

Paul Mescal has revealed he wanted to look ‘big and strong’ for his role in Gladiator 2 as he discussed bulking up for the blockbuster film. 

The 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 film starring Russell Crowe.

Paul worked out to gain muscle for his role in the flick but told Vanity Fair he didn’t want to end up looking like an ‘underwear model’. 

He said: ‘I just wanted to be big and strong and look like somebody who can cause a bit of damage when shit hits the fan.

‘I think also, sometimes, one could, in striving for that perfect look, end up looking more like an underwear model than a warrior.’  

‘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.’

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Paul added that you ‘carry yourself differently’ with more musle and he felt it had a positive impact on him ‘psychologically’ that benefited the film.   

The sequel will centre on Lucius (Paul), the nephew of Commodus and son of Maximus’ former lover Lucilla (Connie Nielsen). 

Lucius was previously portrayed by Spencer Treat Clark in the original Gladiator, who idolised Maximus for his battles.

The sequel will be set after Maximus’ death, following Lucius, who has long thought that his mother is dead only to clap eyes on her when he is brought to Rome as a slave.

The cast also includes Joseph Quinn as Emperor Caracalla, Fred Hechinger as Emperor Greta as a pair of brothers who rule a decaying and corrupt Rome.

Meanwhile returning Gladiator stars Connie Nielsen (Lucilla) and Derek Jacobi (Senator Gracchus) will also be returning for the sequel.  

Director Ridley Scott, 86, is back to helm the reported £250M sequel, after the original bagged five Oscars including  Best Director, Best Actor and Best Picture, as well as earning £400M worldwide.

The original story is set in 180 AD, followed Maximus (Crowe) returning home after leading Roman forces to victory over Germanic tribes.

Meanwhile, his Emperor, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), is secretly murdered by his treacherous son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), after telling him he was unfit to rule.

After Maximus refused to pledge his loyalty to Commodus, he murdered his family, as Maximus is captured by slave traders as he must fight his way through various obstacles to get his vengeance against Commodus.

The film from director Ridley Scott and writers David Franzoni, John Logan and William Nicholson is still considered a classic.

While there had been talk of a sequel since 2001, it never fully came to fruition since 2018 when Paramount gave the project a green light. 

Gladiator won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe.

Gladiator 2 is expected to debut in cinemas later this year.