Actor Paul Mescal was the last person who fans would have dreamed of leading Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II but it has become a reality. The actor, known for his role in Aftersun and Normal People, was selected after only a 20-30-minute Zoom call with Scott, according to Mescal.
The new promotional images from the film indicate a body transformation for the actor as he looks bulky and warrior-like. The film is set during the Roman Empire and Mescal reportedly wanted to make sure he avoided being considered a s*x symbol in the film, the way Brad Pitt was after Fight Club.
Paul Mescal’s Bodily Transformation For Gladiator II Made Him Extremely Strong
While following up on Russell Crowe’s Oscar-winning performance in Gladiator is not an easy task, Oscar-nominee Paul Mescal has a huge task ahead of him. The actor plays Lucius Verus in the upcoming film Gladiator II, a resentful and abandoned young man who is taken back to the Roman Empire as a prisoner of war.
Recent images of Mescal in the film show him bulked up to suit the role of a Roman warrior. His co-star Pedro Pascal told Vanity Fair that he was impressed with the actor’s transformation and was even afraid to perform the combat scenes again as the Normal People star had become so strong.
Talking about his transformation, Paul Mescal mentioned that he aimed to avoid being turned into a s*x symbol and instead focused on looking the part of a Roman warrior (via Vanity Fair),
I just wanted to be big and strong and look like somebody who can cause a bit of damage when s*it 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.
The actor also mentioned that working on his body and getting strong affected his psychology in a positive way and it changed the way he carried himself.
Brad Pitt’s Fight Club Body Is Still Trending
Actor Paul Mescal’s intention in working on his physique during Gladiator II was to not just be believable as a Roman warrior but not just be considered a s*x symbol after the film. One of the most notorious examples of this was Brad Pitt’s physicality in the cult classic Fight Club.
The actor played Tyler Durden in the psychological thriller and was known for his lean yet muscular body. Pitt’s body as Durden reportedly influenced and inspired many bodybuilders and enthusiasts to achieve the same result. According to an interview with fitness expert Farren Morgan, Pitt’s training method and routine is what makes his physique still a trend (via GQ),
His physique in the movie continues to trend because acquiring it took relentless determination, an intensive workout plan, and a highly active lifestyle. Brad’s training and lifestyle resembled those of a tactical athlete. He had to train six days a week, with two days dedicated to cardio training. He also implemented a strict diet, consuming protein shakes and whole foods several times throughout the day to support the development of his muscles to achieve his exceptional physique.
The actor’s body reportedly inspired a trend among fitness enthusiasts on TikTok and Instagram, who wanted to try out the workout plan and achieve the same results.
Gladiator II will be released in cinemas on November 22, 2024.
