Paul Mescal recently shared insights about his casting in Gladiator II during an appearance on BBC’s The Graham Norton Show. The acclaimed Irish actor, who will star alongside Denzel Washington in the much-anticipated sequel to the 2000 classic, revealed that he secured the role after just a 30-minute Zoom call with director Ridley Scott.

Reflecting on the audition process, Mescal humorously noted, “Ridley does not waste time. I expected there would be camera tests and auditions, but we ended up talking on Zoom for half an hour—about ten minutes focused on the role and the remaining twenty on Gaelic football, his dog, and his wife.”

He went on to explain that to his surprise, Scott followed up weeks later with an offer for the part. “I think he just goes by instinct, both on set and off,” Mescal remarked. “I’m really glad that’s how it turned out.”

By the time Mescal interviewed with Scott, the director and studio had likely already recognized his talents and growing acclaim. Mescal rose to fame during the 2020 pandemic with the BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People, a show that quickly became a hit. Since then, he has been featured in works like All of Us Strangers, Foe, and The Lost Daughter, earning an Oscar nomination for his performance in 2022’s Aftersun.

In Gladiator II, Mescal plays Lucius, the grandson of the emperor of Rome, a character first portrayed by Richard Harris. Lucius faces hardship when Roman soldiers invade, leading him to fight as a gladiator in the Colosseum to regain Rome’s former glory. When asked about his preparation for the physically demanding role, Mescal shared, “I ate a lot of chicken and lifted heavy things. I had a trainer who circled me like a shark and I worked with him every day. It was fun.”

During the show, fellow guest Eddie Redmayne also mentioned his own rigorous training for his upcoming role in The Day of the Jackal, humorously contradicting Mescal by saying, “I profoundly disagree; it was not fun, it was horrendous.”

The original Gladiator was a massive success, grossing $465 million worldwide and winning five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Russell Crowe. Mescal’s interview will air on Friday at 10:40 PM on BBC One and iPlayer.