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Paul Mescal was ready to enter the arena on his own terms.
The “Gladiator II” star revealed that while getting into peak physical condition for the upcoming film, there were two things he refused to give up.
“I was working with a trainer who circled me like a shark and said, ‘There is a canvas to work with,’” Mescal, 28, shared during an appearance on the UK’s “Graham Norton Show,” on Friday, per US Weekly. “He went to town, and I saw him every day. It was fun.”
“I did everything he asked but I like to drink and I like to smoke,” the actor admitted, “so I drew a line in the sand where those were concerned.”
But it’s all about balance, as Mescal did eat “a lot of chicken and lifted heavy things.”
“Gladiator II” is set over two decades after the events of the original “Gladiator” film, which starred Russell Crowe. In the sequel, Mescal plays the grown-up Lucius Verus II, the son of Crowe’s character, Maximus, who ends up forced into slavery and becomes a gladiator to earn his freedom, much like his dad did in the first movie.
Mescal also touched on how he landed the role after speaking to director Ridley Scott over Zoom for just 30 minutes.
“Ridley does not waste time,” he told host Graham Norton. “I 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.”
“I thought there would be more, but he called a few weeks later to offer me the part,” Mescal continued. “I think he just goes by instinct on set and off and I’m very glad that’s the way it went.”
The movie also stars Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington — who portrays former slave and Lucius’ mentor, Macrinus.
Mescal reflected on meeting the Oscar winner, 69, on set.
“It was a big day in my life — it was amazing. I spent the first day thinking, ‘I must go introduce myself to him,’ and I stood there for several minutes before I [decided], ‘Not today,’” the actor reminisced. “The next day I decided to be a brave boy.”
In July, Mescal showed off his physical transformation after Pascal, 49, shared a shirtless picture of the “Aftersun” alum on social media wearing just a burlap skirt and gold cuffs in his trailer.
In the Instagram picture, Mescal flashed a smile while wearing a fake scar and a slight beard.
Pascal captioned the snap, along with a poster for the film, “Come and get it. #Gladiator2 November 22.”
Fans flocked to the comments section to give their stamp of approval, with one user writing, “This is a lot for a Monday,” while another chimed in, “Let’s get em papa.”
“Gladiator II” hits theaters on Friday, Nov. 22.