Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal Clash in Gladiator 2: A Tale of Strength, Legacy, and Conquest

Paul Mescal worked out extensively for Gladiator 2, earning him the nickname "Brick Wall Paul" from his co-star Pedro Pascal on set.

In an exclusive interview with Vanity Fair, which included several first-look stills from the sequel, The Last of Us star opened up about what it was like facing off against the Normal People actor.

Pedro Pascal described the experience as brutal, admitting he would rather be thrown from a building than fight Mescal again. He praised Mescal's strength and fitness, acknowledging that filming was a challenge because of Mescal's talent and physical condition. Pascal also credited director Ridley Scott's genius and Mescal's presence as significant reasons why he pushed his body to its limits for the role.

Within the feature, Pascal disclosed more about his character, Roman general Marcus Acacius, who has a connection to Russell Crowe's Maximus Decimus Meridius from the 2000 original, having trained as a junior officer under him. Mescal portrays Lucius, the heir to the former Empire and son of Connie Nielsen's character Lucilla from the first film. The cast also includes Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Derek Jacobi, and Denzel Washington.

Directed by Ridley Scott, the film's script is penned by his Napoleon collaborator David Scarpa.

Previously, little was known about the plot of the follow-up, but the Vanity Fair article revealed that it will explore Lucius's past as it resurfaces with conquerors threatening his home and family. Arcadius, it turns out, leads the invasion of Numidia.

Gladiator 2 is set to release on November 15 in the UK and November 22 in the US. For more details, check out our list of the most anticipated upcoming movies of 2024.