{"id":131387,"date":"2024-10-25T08:25:08","date_gmt":"2024-10-25T08:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/25\/paul-mescal-refused-to-give-up-drinking-smoking-for-gladiator-2\/"},"modified":"2024-10-25T08:25:08","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T08:25:08","slug":"paul-mescal-refused-to-give-up-drinking-smoking-for-gladiator-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/25\/paul-mescal-refused-to-give-up-drinking-smoking-for-gladiator-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul Mescal Refused to Give Up Drinking, Smoking for Gladiator 2"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n Paul Mescal<\/span> Paramount Pictures<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Paul Mescal<\/strong><\/a> got into peak physical condition for Gladiator II<\/em><\/a> \u2014 but there are two things he refused to give up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI ate a lot of chicken and lifted heavy things,\u201d Mescal, 28, said of his physical transformation<\/a> for the upcoming swords-and-sandals epic during an appearance on the U.K.\u2019s Graham Norton Show<\/em>,\u00a0which airs Friday, October 25, on BBC One.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was working with a trainer who circled me like a shark and said, \u2018There is a canvas to work with,\u201d Mescal continued. \u201cHe went to town, and I saw him every day. It was fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, the Irish actor conceded that he wasn\u2019t willing to give up two vices for the role. \u201cI did everything he asked but I like to drink, and I like to smoke, so I drew a line in the sand where those were concerned,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

Set over two decades after the events of the original Gladiator<\/em> movie starring Russell Crowe<\/strong><\/a>, Mescal plays Lucius Verus, the son of Crowe\u2019s character, Maximus, who is forced into slavery and becomes a gladiator to earn his freedom, much like Maximus in the first film.<\/p>\n

Speaking to host Graham Norton<\/strong>, Mescal said he landed the part after speaking to director Ridley Scott<\/strong><\/a> over Zoom for just 30 minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cRidley does not waste time,\u201d the Aftersun actor said. \u201cI thought there would be camera tests and auditions, but we Zoomed for half an hour, spoke for 10 mins about the part, and then 20 minutes about Gaelic football, his dog, and his wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Paul Mescal<\/span> Paramount Pictures<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He continued, \u201cI thought there would be more, but he called a few weeks later to offer me the part. I think he just goes by instinct on set and off and I\u2019m very glad that\u2019s the way it went.\u201d<\/p>\n

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