Gladiator II

Gladiator IIstar Paul Mescal collapse down his training routine in cookery for the role of Lucius Verus . The younger version of the character was play by Spencer Treat Clark in the originalGladiator , with Mescal being reforge as an older Lucius forGladiator II ’s story . With the avail of the tricksy power broker and former hard worker , Macrinus ( Denzel Washington ) , Lucius will habituate the prizefighter arena to attempt revenge against General Marcus Acacius ( Pedro Pascal ) .

While speaking withEmpiremagazine , Mescal explained his turn , which include training six Day a week in 45 - minute volley , overseen by " the best trainer , who make love I do n’t have a vast amount of forbearance , and he could see it in my eyes that after a certain dot I was like , ' Get me out of here!'“Mescal also clarified that he require there to be a limitation and did not require to"go down the whole 300 avenue,“referring to the Spartan warrior in the Zack Snyder film . Check out the rest of Mescal ’s explanation below :

I had always had a sort of latent dream to do something that was more hefty and forcible . From a selfish side of things , I need to surprise an audience , because I knew that I have this kind of persona within me . When this come in up , I was like , " This is something that I do n’t think anybody who ’s seen the work that I ’ve done previously will be bear , " and it ’s Ridley Scott .

Gladiator II Official Poster

When I was first cast I had this thought of like , " You know what ? I ’m just gon na make prizefighter look normal . " But the nearer I got [ to cinematography ] I thought that would be me getting in the manner of the floor .

How do they survive this level of violence that we have no real comprehension of today in a sporting context ? The only fashion you may do that is if you ’re full-bodied and able to take the impact of near - death experience on a day - to - day basis . So then it just mean lift ponderous thing for a long time and eating lots of Gallus gallus .

This idealistic epitome that has been informed by superhero films - that was something I was keen to quash . Because superheroes do n’t subsist , but gladiators did . We do n’t really have it away what they look like , but they were prime athlete nurture in stables , and they civilise every day . So I was like , " Let ’s just go back to what I ’m used to - which is Gaelic football training . "

Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal) rubs sand in between his hands and looks into the distance in Gladiator II

Image via Paramount Pictures

Paul Mescal Can Help Gladiator II Live Up To The Hype

He Is Already An Academy Award And Emmy Award-Nominated Actor

24 yr after the first celluloid , Ridley Scott raised the already eminent expectations for the sequel by calling it one of the best films made in his career . Whether the film can live up to or surpass the heights of its harbinger will largely depend on Mescal , who has already made Lucius distinct via his physique . As telling as Mescal look , along with the rest ofGladiator II ’s shape , costumes , and cinematography , the question now is whether Mescal can deliver a performance as compelling as Russell Crowe ’s portrayal of Maximus Decimus Meridius .

Through his performance , Mescal has the potential drop to makeGladiator IIjust as entertaining as the originalGladiator .

Mescal has demonstrate his acting art before , receiving an Academy Award nomination for his functioning in the 2022 filmAftersunand an Emmy Award nomination for his role in the 2020 miniseriesNormal multitude . Much ofGladiator II ’s appeal revolves around the action and the increase good sense of spectacle . Nevertheless , the sequel also needs to be establish by the world Mescal brings to Lucius , just as Crowe groundedGladiatorwith Maximus ' manhood .

Headshot Of Paul Mescal In The 77th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs)

In a cast that includes theAcademy Award - make headway Washingtonand the Emmy Award - nominate Pascal , Mescal will require to ensure his own performance stands out as the story ’s champion . This will make it easier to be invested in the high - stakes action scene , include when Lucius fights General Acacius in the Colosseum . Through his performance , Mescal has the potential to makeGladiator IIjust as entertaining as its beloved predecessor .

reservoir : Empire

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Cast

Gladiator 2 is the follow - up to Ridley Scott ’s award - winning film Gladiator from 2000 . Scott give to direct the sequel , with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius , alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta . Gladiator 2 had been stuck in growth hell for twelvemonth before a handwriting written by David Scarpa finally moved onward .

Headshot Of Pedro Pascal In The 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

Gladiator II