Paul Mescal's massive change for Gladiator sequel
<p dir="ltr">Paul Mescal has reaped the rewards of his intensive training after a video of him working out went viral on social media overnight.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The 27-year-old Irish actor has been working out in preparation for his role as adult Lucius, the nephew of Roman Emperor Commodus, in the sequel of <em>Gladiator</em>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Mescal impressed fans with his standing dumbbell rows and new look in the clip, as he worked out in just a pair of black shorts and trainers, rocking a beard and moustache, fully embracing his role as Lucius.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“This guy’s got to fight and got to be a beast. And whatever that looks and feels like is right for me, is what it’s going to be,” the actor told <em>The Hollywood Reporter</em>.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><iframe title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7247143080187399466&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40letterboxd%2Fvideo%2F7247143080187399466&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp19-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2Fa5eae0659f6a4f10a93b40db83730084%3Fx-expires%3D1687503600%26x-signature%3DRNQf9VrXb3NPkoMQOLOEIPiggU8%253D&key=5b465a7e134d4f09b4e6901220de11f0&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
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<p dir="ltr">In the same interview for the outlet, he told them that he doesn’t want the focus to be on his physical transformation, and wants to still look “real”.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Sometimes I see films and I’m like, ‘That person doesn’t look real,” he said regarding his transformation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“With films like this and superhero films, there is sometimes a focus on that, which I don’t find that interesting.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Of course there’s a physical robustness required for the character, but past that, I’m not interested,” he added.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Thousands of fans took to the comment section on TikTok to praise the actor’s transformation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Thank you letterboxd good god almighty,” one fan thanked the outlet for posting the video.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Hard work pays off. Looking good man,” praised another.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“OMG MY MAN I CANNOT WAIT” gushed another fan.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Paul I’m on my way,” commented a fourth.</p>
<p><em>Images: TikTok/ Getty</em></p>
