As a movie buff with a soft spot for Irish cinema and a deep appreciation for actors who dare to challenge convention, I find Paul Mescal’s approach to preparing for his role in Gladiator II absolutely fascinating. The man doesn’t just play a character; he lives it, and that’s what sets him apart from the rest.
Paul Mescal, renowned for his poignant acting in ‘Normal People’ and ‘Aftersun’, underwent an extraordinary physical transformation for his next film, ‘Gladiator II’. However, unlike most Hollywood actors, he didn’t follow the standard training regimen.
Over the past few decades, Hollywood workout routines have gained immense popularity. After Hugh Jackman bulked up to embody Wolverine in X-Men 2: The Last Stand, many actors have followed suit, particularly for action and superhero characters. Consequently, sharing details about their fitness regimens has become a common aspect of movie public relations tactics, much like press conferences and interviews. As an admirer, I’ve found it fascinating to learn about these transformations that help bring our favorite characters to life on the silver screen.
Paul Mescal opted for a non-traditional route when it came to portraying his muscular yet athletic character, Lucius, in Ridley Scott’s upcoming “Gladiator” sequel. In an interview with Empire Magazine, Mescal shared that he focused on training for his performance rather than physical appearance to embody Lucius in “Gladiator II.” Initially, Mescal considered not training at all, aiming to buck the trend of typical masculine roles.
Initially, Mecall planned to make gladiators appear ordinary for his project, but later realized this approach would not do justice to the narrative. In the beginning, he found it challenging to visualize an authentic gladiator’s appearance, as he expressed difficulty understanding how a real-life gladiator should look.
“How do athletes endure such intense violence in sports, which seems unimaginable to us today? It requires incredible resilience and the ability to handle repeated brushes with potentially life-threatening incidents. This translates to spending significant amounts of time lifting heavy weights and consuming large quantities of chicken.
Paul Mescal Trained Like a Gaelic Football Player for Gladiator II
The excessive emphasis on showcasing actors’ workout routines by Hollywood has led to some dubious and sensationalized fitness trends being marketed towards ordinary people. Numerous health-related publications have advertised unverified training equipment and methods. However, Paul Mescal refused this trend and approached his training for Gladiator II with the same dedication as a professional athlete would. Even though Gladiators are not part of modern society, combat sports such as boxing and mixed martial arts are highly popular and bear striking resemblances to ancient forms of entertainment.
Stepping into the role of Lucius, I didn’t rely on contemporary martial arts for my preparation; instead, I delved into a sport that was part of my childhood and adolescence in Ireland – Gaelic football. This unique blend of soccer and rugby is a brutally physical game demanding peak levels of strength and fitness. I realized the rigorous nature of this sport would be ideal to mold my physique for the character I was portraying. In my own words:
I wanted to steer clear from the notion of a superhero, a character often depicted in movies, as they are fictional. Instead, I found myself drawn to the reality of gladiators, historical figures who were indeed athletes trained rigorously. Although we don’t have detailed images of them, it is known that they were raised and trained like horses. So, I thought it more fitting to return to what I am familiar with – the discipline and training involved in Gaelic football.
Gladiator II
releases in theaters on November 22, 2024.
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2024-09-08 18:31