Summary
New information aboutGladiator 2has recently been released, and it makes one of the biggest theories about the original movie even more likely to be confirmed.Paul Mescal is set to play Lucius inGladiator 2, and the new information about his character brought some old theories back to the spotlight. Lucius was a child, played by Spencer Treat Clark, in the originalGladiator, though hisactor won’t return forGladiator 2. The part was instead given to Mescal, who will be playing a much older version of Lucius years after Maximus killed Emperor Commodus atthe end ofGladiator.
Though Lucius has a new actor, Mescal’s take on the character will certainly connect to Clark’s. The sequel isn’t set for release until November, but theGladiator 2story detailsthat are currently available make it clear that Lucius’s story was directly influenced by the originalGladiator. Thenew images ofGladiator 2held some big revealsabout the movie, and specifically Lucius. They don’t paint a full picture yet, but those details suggestGladiator 2could confirm one of the biggest theories about the original movie. If that theory proves true, it would completely redefine bothGladiatorand Lucius' entire character.
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Lucius Being Maximus' Son Makes A Lot Of Sense After Gladiator Story Reveals
Lucius is set to be the main character ofGladiator 2, and it looks like he’ll be extremely similar to Maximus.Like Maximus, Lucius is a former favorite son of Rome, andGladiator 2will also see him imprisoned and forced to fight as a gladiator, and his time in the Colosseum will put him on a path to fighting Rome’s established powers. Lucius will also be forced to fightPedro Pascal’s Acacius, a Roman general who was trained by Maximus and who started a romantic relationship with Lucilla, Lucius' mother. Acacius already sounds quite similar to Commodus,Gladiator’s main villain, who tried to take Lucilla as his bride.
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The similarities between Lucius and Maximus are quite obvious, but they might run even deeper.Gladiator 2’s story details seem to suggest Lucius is Maximus' son, a theory that has been popular since the originalGladiatorwas released over 24 years ago. IfGladiator 2does confirm that Lucius and Maximus were related, it would fit perfectly with the story details that have been released so far. It would also be extremely thematically poignant, especially since Lucius will have to fight one of the few men left who knew Maximus personally.
Was Lucius Always Supposed To Be Maximus' Son In The Gladiator Sequel?
A big reason the theory that Lucius was Maximus' son in the originalGladiatorgot so popular is because there were so many hints to it.Gladiatorheavily implied that Lucilla and Maximus had a romantic relationship years before the movie, which might have been at the right time to match up to Lucius' young age. Lucius, too, seemed very connected to Maximus throughoutGladiator. They instantly bonded when Lucius spoke to Maximus in his cage, and Lucius quickly began to idolize Maximus after his victories in the Colosseum.
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There isn’t just support for the theory in the actual movie, though, asGladiatordirector Ridley Scott hinted at it in interviews as well. After the originalGladiator’s success, Scott began developing a script for the sequel in 2003, but it fizzled out. Later, Scott said in an interview that he wanted to incorporate the idea ofLucius being Maximus' son intoGladiator 2. Scott said, “Therefore, it would be to the son that Maximus had probably left behind with his affair with Lucilla.“It now seems that the idea has survived, even 21 years later, and thatGladiator 2will finally confirm the long-standing theory.
What Lucius Being Maximus' Son Would Mean For Gladiator 2
IfGladiator 2does establish that Lucius was the illegitimate son of Maximus, it could have a huge impact on the movie’s plot. Lucius is already following in Maximus' footsteps, but the knowledge that his true father was “the savior of Rome” could push him to follow even more closely.Knowing that he wasn’t actually related to Lucius Verus I could distance Lucius even further from the Empire, especially after Commodus tried to kill him and Lucilla sent him away. That might be enough to convince Lucius to go even further than Maximus did, and eliminate even more of Rome’s ruling class.
Gladiator
Cast
Gladiator follows Maximus, a Roman general betrayed by the new emperor Commodus. After escaping execution, he is enslaved and becomes a gladiator. Set in ancient Rome, the story portrays his struggle for survival and quest for vengeance as he battles for his freedom in the arena.
Aside from its impact on the plot ofGladiator 2, Lucius learning that Maximus was his biological father would have huge thematic implications. One side of Lucius' ancestry would be the legitimate lineage of Roman Emperors, including Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. The other would be Maximus, a man whose life was destroyed and ultimately taken by Rome. Lucius would have to decide which of his legacies to live up to, and how to face the secrets of his past. Confirming the theory that Lucius is Maximus' son would open so many opportunities forGladiator 2that it’s hard to believe it won’t happen.
Gladiator II
Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
