'Gladiator II' trailer: Lucius is Maximus's son—not Lucius Verus I's
The latest trailer for Gladiator II was finally dropped on Monday, revealing a significant plot twist. The character of Lucius (played by Paul Mescal) is revealed to be the son of Maximus (portrayed by Russell Crowe in the original 2000 film), not Lucius Verus I as previously believed. This revelation not only impacts the narrative of both films but also adds depth to the character of Maximus. The film is set to hit theaters on November 22.
Lucius's mother discloses the truth
In the new trailer, Lucius's mother, Lucilla (played by Connie Nielsen in both films), discloses the truth about his parentage as he prepares for a battle in the Colosseum. This revelation was known to actor Mescal from his initial discussions with director Ridley Scott. "He mentioned it in the talk, but then it's an affronting thing to see it written on the page, and [to have] that responsibility fall on your shoulders is interesting," Mescal told Entertainment Weekly.
Mescal's reaction to the revelation
Despite the implications of this revelation, Mescal was surprised when he discovered the truth. "Oh, absolutely. I was like, 'Holy s---,'" he said. However, he doesn't believe it significantly altered his approach to portraying Lucius. He explained that the script does much of the work in terms of establishing Lucius's inherited traits. Mescal further elaborated on his approach, stating, "So I kind of tried to park that to one side because ultimately...he has a very different journey than Maximus does."
Take a look at the trailer here
Lucius's journey in 'Gladiator II'
Gladiator II reveals that Lucius was sent away from Rome by his mother to ensure his safety. However, when the ruthless emperors now ruling Rome conquer his new home, he is captured and forced to become a gladiator like his father. With a newfound resentment toward Rome and his mother, Lucius steps into the Colosseum. The supporting cast features Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius, Denzel Washington as Macrinus, and Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger—as the twin emperors of Rome.
