Paul Mescal jokes about strict training regime for Gladiator sequel

Virgin Radio

10 Mar 2023, 11:19

Paul Mescal has been busy beefing up for his role in the upcoming Gladiator movie. Set to star in Sir Ridley Scott’s sequel to the smash hit 2000 movie, the Oscar-nominated actor has been going hard in the gym before shooting starts.

Speaking at the Independent Spirit Awards, the star told Variety: "Every time someone asks me if I’ve started working out, I’m like, “What do you mean? You can’t tell?”’

"I’m working hard. Hopefully, when you see me in three or four weeks, you’ll be able to see it.

"I like exercise. It’s not something I dread, thank God."

Talking about his strict diet, he said last month: “I imagine it will be like the classic thing of eating lots of chicken and broccoli,” he said. I’m looking forward to it because anything that is kind of structured and difficult, it’s kinda fun."

On training, he admitted: "I don’t like doing shoulders so much."

The second instalment of Gladiator is set to start filming at the beginning of June. The Irish actor will take on the role of Lucius, the son of Connie Nielsen’s character Lucilla and the nephew of Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus, but the follow-up won’t be a ‘direct sequel’.

Russell Crowe who played Maximus in the original which was nominated for 12 Oscars, previously told the hosts of the Fitzy and Wippa podcast about Scott's vision: "We’ve had dinner and talked about it and all that stuff. So I know roughly how he’s shaping the story.

"But yeah, if you remember, there was a young kid who wanted to beat the Gladiator, which leads to the 'My name is' speech.

"So that young kid has grown up, and he’s now the Emperor. I don’t know what else happens at that point, so that’s the idea. So it’s not a remake. And it’s not a direct sequel. It’s not like the day after, you know, 30 years later or something."

Here's Paul reacting to his first-ever Oscar nomination.