Matt Lucas shines as Master of Ceremonies in Gladiator 2 after 80 audition takes

Matt Lucas plays the flamboyant Master of Ceremonies in "Gladiator 2," a role he secured after submitting an audition tape that took 80 takes. He drew inspiration from Laurence Olivier and received direction from Ridley Scott to be "more, bigger, bolder." The film features a star-studded cast, including Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington. Lucas filmed his scenes in Malta, using the original Colosseum set from the first movie, with around 600 extras present during his shoots. Lucas noted the challenges of filming in extreme heat, contrasting his character's light costume with the gladiators' heavy gear. He expressed admiration for the physical demands placed on his co-stars during production. "Gladiator 2" is now in theaters.