Paul Mescal Stripped Down in Front of Trainer Before ShootingGladiator II: 'There's a Canvas with Which to Work Here'

Mar. 15, 2025

Paul Mescal on ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’; Paul Mescal in ‘Gladiator II’.Photo:CBS; Paramount Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

CBS; Paramount Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Paul Mescalbared it all in front of his physical trainer forGladiator II.The actor, 28, recalled bulking up for his latest role in the epic historical action movie during a Nov. 20 appearance onThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert– and the process began with him stripping down in a hotel room with trainer Tim Blakeley.Mescal told hostStephen Colbertthat his training to play vengeful Roman fighter Lucius began “two or three months” before the movie went into production.He said, “I had a trainer called Tim Blakeley, who’s as big as that screen behind us, and he really looked after me.“Paul Mescal at the world premiere of ‘Gladiator II’ in London on Nov. 13, 2024.Ian West/PA Images via GettyTheAftersunactor continued to share a story where Blakeley visited him at his hotel and asked him to take off his clothes down to his underwear.“So, I’m stood there in my underwear and he’s just kind of circling me, and basically just looking at my body scientifically,” Mescal said. “He comes back and there’s just this intense silence, and he’s just looking at me with his head cocked, and he goes, ‘There’s a canvas with which to work here.’ “The2024 PEOPLE’s Men of the Yearwinner said that Blakeley then proceeded to “give me numbers in terms of how much kilos he wants me to put on in each body part.“Mescal recalled being told to eat “all of the chicken imaginable” to pack on the weight.Paul Mescal in ‘Gladiator II’.Paramount Pictures/Courtesy Everett CollectionAlso starringDenzel WashingtonandPedro Pascal,Gladiator IIfollows Lucius as he is forced to enter the Colosseum after the emperors of Rome have conquered his home.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The hotly anticipated movie is the sequel to the 2000’sGladiatorstarringRussell Croweand sees the return of directorRidley Scott.On Oct. 25, Mescal said onThe Graham Norton Showthat his trainer “went to town, and I saw him every day. It was fun.“Moreover, the Ireland native said he wasn’t willing to give up a few of his personal habits to get into shape, but he otherwise followed the strict rules.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!“I did everything he asked, but I like to drink, and I like to smoke, so I drew a line in the sand where those were concerned,” he shared.Gladiator IIopens in theaters on Nov. 22.

Paul Mescalbared it all in front of his physical trainer forGladiator II.

The actor, 28, recalled bulking up for his latest role in the epic historical action movie during a Nov. 20 appearance onThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert– and the process began with him stripping down in a hotel room with trainer Tim Blakeley.

Mescal told hostStephen Colbertthat his training to play vengeful Roman fighter Lucius began “two or three months” before the movie went into production.

He said, “I had a trainer called Tim Blakeley, who’s as big as that screen behind us, and he really looked after me.”

Paul Mescal at the world premiere of ‘Gladiator II’ in London on Nov. 13, 2024.Ian West/PA Images via Getty

Ian West/PA Images via Getty

TheAftersunactor continued to share a story where Blakeley visited him at his hotel and asked him to take off his clothes down to his underwear.

“So, I’m stood there in my underwear and he’s just kind of circling me, and basically just looking at my body scientifically,” Mescal said. “He comes back and there’s just this intense silence, and he’s just looking at me with his head cocked, and he goes, ‘There’s a canvas with which to work here.’ "

The2024 PEOPLE’s Men of the Yearwinner said that Blakeley then proceeded to “give me numbers in terms of how much kilos he wants me to put on in each body part.”

Mescal recalled being told to eat “all of the chicken imaginable” to pack on the weight.

Paul Mescal in ‘Gladiator II’.Paramount Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Paramount Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Also starringDenzel WashingtonandPedro Pascal,Gladiator IIfollows Lucius as he is forced to enter the Colosseum after the emperors of Rome have conquered his home.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The hotly anticipated movie is the sequel to the 2000’sGladiatorstarringRussell Croweand sees the return of directorRidley Scott.

On Oct. 25, Mescal said onThe Graham Norton Showthat his trainer “went to town, and I saw him every day. It was fun.”

Moreover, the Ireland native said he wasn’t willing to give up a few of his personal habits to get into shape, but he otherwise followed the strict rules.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

“I did everything he asked, but I like to drink, and I like to smoke, so I drew a line in the sand where those were concerned,” he shared.

Gladiator IIopens in theaters on Nov. 22.

source: people.com