Gladiator II
Summary
prizefighter 2may not be bringing back Russell Crowe as Maximus , but it could be pay up off a decades - long Ridley Scott concept . Gladiatorbecame an crying classic upon release in 2000 , instantly revitalizing director Ridley Scott ’s career and make Russell Crowe a movie sensation . The movie wrap up utterly too , with Crowe ’s Maximus having achieved his revenge before buckle under to his wounds . Of course , when the film was a gigantic achiever , Maximus ' unambiguous end made subsequence discussions slippery .
That ’s whyGladiator 2spent over two decades in development hell , with several concepts being pitched and reject . Nick Cave’sGladiator 2screenplaybecame somewhat infamous , with the plot involve Maximus being revive by the Roman Gods to slay Jesus Christ . After a period where it come along a sequel would never happen , Scott has finally stepped back behind the camera forthe upcomingGladiator 2 . Some intimate faces will return for the film , though Maximus remain deceased . or else , it will be fronted by Paul Mescal as the adult Lucius , who was played by Spencer Treat Clark in the original .
Ridley Scott Teased Lucius Being Maximus' Son Back In 2003
Gladiator 2 could resurrect an early idea for the sequel
When being interviewed forRotten Tomatoesin 2006 , Scott essentially rule outGladiator 2ever pass off . He bring out Crowe was n’t especially concerned in returning , and the story they had been developing back in 2003 did n’t quite work . Scott also strongly impliedGladiator 2would reveal Lucius was the Logos of Maximus and Connie Nielsen ’s Lucilla , submit it would research the aftermath of the original and " Therefore , it would be to the boy that Maximus had probably go forth behind with his function with Lucilla . "
Since revealing Lucius as Maximus ' secret son was one of his early impulses for Gladiator 2 , that could be the approach the plot will take . It would n’t push credulity too much if this reveal materialise , considering a past romance between Maximus and Lucilla was confirmed in the original .
It feel like a natural progression forGladiator 2to follow a grown - up Lucius , and that ’s the route the film is taking . Plot descriptions for the continuation do n’t advise Lucius is revealed to be Maximus ' son , or even tip at that slant . Even so , Scott is a film maker who tends to nest ideas forth when it come to sequel . Before rejoining the dealership withPrometheus , for instance , Scott always state he would have preferred anAliensequel to research the lineage of the Engineers instead .
To the surprisal of no one , that was the patch of his eventual 2012 prequel . Since let out Lucius as Maximus ' privy Word was one of his earlier impulse forGladiator 2 , that could be the coming Scott will take . It would n’t push credulity too much if this reveal pass , see a past romanticism between Maximus and Lucilla was confirmed in the original .
Paramount premieres the first poke for Gladiator 2 , Ridley Scott ’s highly - anticipated subsequence to his Best motion picture - acquire motion-picture show from 2000 .
Gladiator 2’s CinemaCon Trailer Sets Up Lucius Being Maximus' Son
The Gladiator sequel is already dropping hints about Lucius' parentage
Lucilla is also returning for the continuation and ground on description of the CinemaCon 2024 trailer for theRidley Scott movie , will have a key supporting role . TheGladiator 2preview show Lucilla handing Maximus ' ring to Lucius , presumably to give him a good destiny charm when he heads into conflict . Now , this could merely be a case of Lucius make major hero worship for Maximus , having watched all his sports stadium battles and even witness him killing Lucius ' evil uncle , Commodus ( Joaquin Phoenix ) . Lucius even states duringGladiator 2’strailer :
I remember that mean solar day . I never forgot it . That a slave could take revenge against an emperor butterfly . That a striver could get DoJ in the stadium .
The sequel will distinctly see Lucius follow in Maximus ' footsteps , but receive the latter ’s ring from his mother could throw a deep significance . Lucilla could bring out to Lucius that he really is Maximus ' son , which is a secret she did n’t even expose to Maximus himself . The exact timeline between when Maximus and Lucilla ’s romance ended is vague enough for the timeline to work and could impart some emotional weightiness to the story .
Custom image by Debanjana Chowdhury
The other key doer fromGladiatorreturning for the continuation is Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus .
Why Lucius Being Maximus' Son Would Be Good For Gladiator 2
The Gladiator sequel can carry on Maximus' legacy in more ways than one
The original involved Maximus righting a terrible wrongfulness , even if it cost him his biography . The setup forGladiator 2suggests Maximus ' epic act of defiance lingered on in Rome , and not only through Lucius . Other raw players in the sequel - let in Pedro Pascal ’s military commander turned prizefighter and Denzel Washington ’s ex - slave turned arms monger - are essay to pop out a revolution in Rome . Lucius himself will be key to this plot , so it would hold special import if he is revealed to be Maximus ' child .
His father ’s rejection drove Commodus to become vitriolic and to only live for business leader , but ifGladiator 2makes Lucius into Maximus ' tyke , the opposite could be straight . He would come his father ’s example of essay justice and challenge the crooked .
Again , this all comes down to how the level is secernate . If Scott practice this reveal for the sake of having connective tissue paper with the original , it could palpate like it was pull from a Georgia home boy opera house . However , the originalGladiatorwas largely about unlikely fathers and sons , from Maximus ' family relationship with both Richard Harris ' emperor Marcus Aurelius to his gladiator flight simulator Proximo ( Oliver Reed ) .
Custom image by Ryan Northrup
There was also Lucius ' human relationship with his corrupt uncle Commodus , who was spurned by his own father . His sire ’s rejection drove Commodus to become bitter and to only populate for powerfulness , but ifGladiator 2makes Lucius into Maximus ' tiddler , the opposite could be genuine . He would postdate his Father-God ’s exemplar of try justice and take exception the tainted , which surely would be part of Maximus ' legacy within Rome .
root : Rotten Tomatoes
Gladiator 2 is the follow - up to Ridley Scott ’s award - winning cinema Gladiator from 2000 . Scott returns to aim the sequel , with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius , alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta . prizefighter 2 had been stuck in growing hell for years before a handwriting indite by David Scarpa eventually move onward .
