Star gets jacked for Gladiator sequel

A video of the 27-year-old shirtless and performing standing dumbbell rows has gone viral on social media in a single day, which exhibits the actor’s new physique forward of the much-anticipated movie.

Wearing only a pair of black shorts and trainers, Mescal seems to have grown out his hair as he rocks a beard and moustache to morph into the character of Lucius, the now grown-up nephew of Roman Emperor Commodus, who was performed by Joaquin Phoenix within the authentic film starring Russell Crowe.

“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,” he advised The Hollywood Reporter not too long ago on his transformation. “Sometimes I see films and I’m like, ‘That person doesn’t look real.’”

However, in the identical interview, Mescal mentioned he doesn’t need the main focus to be on his bodily transformation.

“With films like this and superhero films, there is sometimes a focus on that, which I don’t find that interesting,” he mentioned.

“Of course there’s a physical robustness required for the character, but past that, I’m not interested.”

The authentic movie went on to win 5 Oscars, together with Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe’s efficiency as a former Roman-General-turned-gladiator, who’s out to avenge the homicide of his household. The sequel will even be directed by the acclaimed Ridley Scott.

In a current interview with Collider, Crowe mentioned he felt “slightly jealous” about not being concerned within the sequel, given it was such a “huge experience” in his life.

“I’m sure that [there have] been things on [Scott’s] mind for the last 24 years that he thinks he can probably do better [in the movie],” Crowe advised the outlet.

“He’s going to want to go back into that world and create something [on] the same level of spectacle as the first one.”