Mescal recalled feeling overwhelmed when he first stepped onto the massive set, which featured hundreds of extras, burning fires, and the intricate walls of Morocca. He said, "I was like, 'Ooh - this is f***ing big.'" However, before filming began, Scott gave him some direct advice: "Your nerves are no f***ing good to me." Mescal described this as a liberating moment, saying Scott's words helped ease the pressure.
Gladiator II will follow a grown-up Lucius, who leads a quiet life with his family in Numidia until the city is invaded by General Marcus Acacius, played by Pedro Pascal. Lucius is forced into slavery and ultimately becomes a gladiator, determined to challenge the rule of Emperors Caracalla and Geta, played by Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn.
Mescal acknowledged that comparisons to Russell Crowe’s iconic portrayal of Maximus are inevitable but stressed his goal is to create a unique identity for Lucius. He avoided rewatching the original film during preparation but did watch it later with friends, calling the experience "amazing." Mescal explained that as Lucius is a different character, there wasn’t much to be gained by revisiting Crowe's performance, emphasizing his focus on bringing his own interpretation to the role.