Paul Mescal’s Ripped Physique Amid Gladiator 2 Filming Shows Actor is Set to Begin His Superhero Era Despite His Doubts Over Joining the MCU
From Gaelic football fields to Hollywood, Paul Mescal’s journey has been unconventional and inspiring. The young Irish actor gained recognition with the series Normal People and won the hearts of millions with his raw acting skills and undying charm.
He also received an Emmy nomination for Normal People and an Oscar nomination for the lead role in Aftersun. The fact that his next film, Gladiator 2, is directed by Ridley Scott, has definitely increased fans’ expectations.
Paul Mescal’s Superhero Aspirations and Doubts
When it comes to the possibility of being involved in a superhero movie, Paul Mescal has been showing both excitement and concern at the same time. Although the chances of portraying a superhero seem interesting, the actor has expressed his thoughts about the challenges that come with such roles.
During an interview with GQ UK, Mescal confessed to getting jealous of actors who have the patience to be in a Marvel film.
I don’t know if I would have the patience required. And I am deeply envious of people who do have that patience.
Moreover, the recent images of his ripped physique for Gladiator 2 have sparked the interest of his fans, who wish to see him in a superhero role. Mescal also mentioned the contract constraints and the number of commitments that come with committing to a role, that might take as long as a decade to end.
I’d struggle if that was taken away from me. And I think sometimes you have to make a decision to let that go for five, 10, 15 years and that would be really sad.
I know that if I make that decision, I’m not going to wake up in five years’ time and be surprised I didn’t get time off to go to Turkey and make an independent film for two months. Knowledge is power.
Although Mescal might seem not interested in joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, according to Hollywood insider Daniel Richtman (via Heroic Hollywood), there were reports that he was going to portray Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch, in the Fantastic Four reboot. But it never happened, and now Joseph Quinn is confirmed to take up the role.
Paul Mescal’s Transformation and Gladiator 2 Set Images
Several set photos from Gladiator 2 have come out that show the physical transformation of Mescal for his role as Lucius. The images were revealed via the Daily Mail, where Mescal is seen bruised and blood-stained, which is similar to Russell Crowe‘s Maximus from the original film.
With his armor and rugged look, Mescal’s portrayal of Lucius looks promising. The behind-the-scenes photos show Mescal performing some action scenes, and many extras are dressed in Roman gear on horseback, giving the shoot a feel of war.
There is one scene in which Mescal is imprisoned and seems to be a part of the slave train, a reference to the story in which Maximus goes from the leader of the Roman army to the gladiator. This parallel pays tribute to the first movie.
The movie is directed by Ridley Scott, and the script is written by David Scarpa. During an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, Scott said that the audience will see Lucius as someone living in the woods after being separated from his family for about 15 years.
The WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes also had an impact on the filming of Gladiator 2. However, the production ended in January 2024. The majority of the primary shooting took place in Malta, with the remaining work completed in Sussex, which is also the location of those pictures.
Although Gladiator 2 is not a superhero movie, the behind-the-scenes pictures are proof that Mescal can handle such physically demanding roles, and his fans will continue to speculate about his appearance in a superhero movie.
Gladiator 2 will be released in theaters on November 22, 2024.
