Ridley Scotts Gladiator II is one of the most anticipated films of the year. The sequel to the classic 2000 film focuses on the life of adult Lucius, played by actor Paul Mescal.

The first reactions to the film are in and Mescal has received rave reviews for his performance and action scenes. To achieve his ripped body, the actor had gone to great lengths to transform into his character.

He had to follow a strict regimen to fulfill the role of a Roman warrior. However, there were still some things the actor refused to give up.

Speaking on the Graham Norton Show in Britain, Mescal said, according to US Weekly: “I’ve been eating a lot of chicken and lifting heavy things.”

“I worked with a trainer who circled me like a shark and said, ‘There’s a canvas to work with,’” Mescal continued. “He went to town and I saw him every day. It was fun.”

Mescal added that he did everything except the two things he couldn’t give up, smoking and drinking.

“I did everything he asked, but I like to drink and I like to smoke,” the actor admitted, “so I drew a line in the sand on that end.”

However, the actor managed to strike a balance by “eating a lot of chicken and lifting heavy things.”

The actor also told host Graham Norton that he got the lead role in the film after a 30-minute chat with director Scott.

“Ridley wastes no time,” the actor said. “I thought there would be camera tests and auditions, but we zoomed in for half an hour, talked for ten minutes about the role and then twenty minutes about Gaelic football, his dog and his wife.”

He continued: “I thought there would be more, but he called a few weeks later to offer me the role. I think he just goes on instinct when he gets in and out and I’m very happy that it turned out that way.”

The film is set years after the death of Maximus (played by Russell Crowe) and follows the life of the adult Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen).

The film’s official synopsis reads: “Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius is forced into the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now rule Rome with With anger in his heart and the future of the empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to his people.

In addition to Mescal, the film stars Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Nielsen and Denzel Washington.