Gladiator II
The selling forGladiator IIrevealed a certain amount of selective information forward of time that made some of the " twists " and change by reversal of the patch redundant . To a sure extent , Gladiator IIis a predictable motion-picture show , as it is heavily derivative of the originalGladiator ’s narration . Lucius ( Paul Mescal ) becomes the outdoor stage - in for Russell Crowe ’s Maximus , try retaliation for the dying of his family against a powerful build in ancient Rome through gladiatorial scrap . There is then a definitemoment whenGladiator IIstops being a remakeand the plot of land go into uncharted dominion .
However , the narrative for the last third of the movie is the full point when the alleged plot turn are less important , having by then been introduced as fact of the setting . While some might think ofGladiator II ’s endingas a surprisal , the movie in and of itself also hides some information about the character until a certain distributor point . If a viewer watchedGladiator IIhaving seen no lagger or press , they might even be shockedby these Revelation . However , most went in with some anterior knowledge and may have been confused as to why the movie was plow these patch points like twist .
5Hanno Is Lucius
No One Confirms That Paul Mescal’s Character Is Lucilla’s Son Until The Midway Point
Long before press releases andpromotional images unveil several thing aboutGladiator II , it was confirm that the novel agonist would be Lucilla ’s ( Connie Nielsen ) boy Lucius , to be played by up - and - come actor Paul Mescal . Lucilla is Maximus ' making love interest inGladiator , while her son by her later hubby ( at least officially ) appear as a child ( played by Spencer Treat Clark).Establishing this information forrader of time did have the benefit of make it known what form of sequelGladiator IIwould be : a unmediated continuance , with the torch being pass to the next contemporaries through a theatrical role consultation already cognize .
However , Gladiator IIthen acts as if this is n’t common noesis for almost the total first one-half of the movie . Lucius proceed by Hannowhile live in Numidia and for much of his metre as a prizefighter ; before Lucilla comes to see him , nothing is ever explicitly said or establish on screen that reassert his identity element . In a dissimilar context , Gladiator IImight have been work up up a mystery when flashbacks show that Hanno has been incline from someone for most of his life , and he itemize poetry only the upper class would be familiar with in other scene .
prizefighter 3 is unlikely to be any more historically accurate than Gladiator 2 , with Lucius set up to fight a more political engagement for Rome ’s future .
Gladiator IIstarts with an animate opening credit sequencethat recaps the old movie , before die straight into Hanno ’s current sprightliness in Numidia . The transition does get out a kind of connection between him and retiring events , as though the writers did want the hearing to go through the dramatic irony of knowing the truth . However , objectively , the movie unnecessarily hide Lucius ' identity when most people watching the motion-picture show know anyway .
4Lucilla Is With Acacius
Lucilla Hides Off-Screen For A Sort Of Reveal of Her Relationship With The New General
The press tour demonstrate some monthsahead of Gladiator II ’s press release engagement that Lucilla would be in a romantic relationship with Marcus Acacius ( Pedro Pascal ) in the continuation . Interestingly , media reporting did not stringently say that they are tie , which is disclose to be the caseful too soon on inGladiator II . However , the picture show hides Lucilla and the family relationship for some meter as well . Connie Nielsen ’s name come out in the opening credits , butLucilla is not seen or referred to by name on filmdom until her first scene with Acacius .
Acacius references his wife when he speak with the Emperors Geta ( Joseph Quinn ) and Caracalla ( Fred Hechinger ) , but does not name her . The tale sequence creates another mystery around her because the emperor mention that they have given her certain " prerogative . " However , Acacius ' reunification with Lucilla and her ferment to reveal her face is position up as a form of plot twist , as the character who is at this point the villain in Lucius ' story is marital to Lucius ' mother — albeit a twist which is subject on the hearing have intercourse who both Lucilla and Lucius are .
3Acacius Knew Maximus
Media Simply Stated Acacius' Connection To Maximus, In Contrast To The Movie’s Emotional Moment
The same closet releases provided audiences with the new character detail thatAcacius , a Roman general at the clip ofGladiator II , trained under Maximus as a junior officerand essentially existed off - screen inGladiator . This compound Pedro Pascal ’s character , as Maximus ' legacy becomes much more complicated when Lucius and Acacius embody unlike facets of it . This might have simply been a backstory plot decimal point in the mind of the writer , but the movie actually gets a heavy , revelatory moment out of it whenLucius adjudicate not to kill Acacius .
After cede in the Colosseum , Acacius use his final moments to tell Lucius that he is dedicated to both of his parent , the first time anyone in the picture show reference that Acacius ever knew Maximus in person . It ’s a confession that would likely surprise and affect Lucius in some way and could cause him to decide that he want no further part in the bicycle of revenge . Admittedly , Ridley Scott cut a meaning amount of footage fromGladiator II , and Acacius and Lucilla could have discussed their deal link to Maximus in a deleted scene .
2Maximus Is Lucius' Father
The Biggest Gladiator Theory Was Shockingly Confirmed By A Trailer
Perhaps the untimely reveal that shocked most masses ( because it was revealed , not necessarily because it is a part of the story ) is the confirmation thatMaximus is Lucius ' biological father . Maximus having father Lucius through an affair with Lucilla , despite both their marriages , is a long - held cinematic possibility , even though no one in the originalGladiatorever suggests it is a possibility . Only inGladiator deuce-ace it reveal that there was scuttlebutt throughout Rome that Lucilla may have withdraw a lover during her first marriage , who was her child ’s father .
When it was also exonerated far out front of fourth dimension thatGladiator IIwould focus on Lucius following in Maximus ’ footsteps , deciding to make this possibility canon helped streamline the plot in term of its root of legacy . However , give how authoritative it is to the report andGladiatorfans , they might have keep it secret until the moving picture ’s discharge . Even Lucius does n’t appear particularly surprised when Lucilla matter - of - factly refers to Maximus as his father , the official minute of confirmation in the floor . This line was include in a trailer that came out before the moving picture .
1Macrinus Is Trying To Dethrone The Emperors
In Retrospect, All The Marketing Was Hinting At Macrinus' Villainy
Macrinus may be the winding villain inGladiator II , when Acacius is insert as an antagonist through the direction the opening scene unfolds , and the Saturnia pavonia are also doubtlessly nefarious . However , marketing could n’t hold out tease the scheming political brilliance of the character being run by a caption such as Denzel Washington , which made his overall plans fairly easy to infer . In an interview from before the movie , Ridley Scott said ( viaDeadline ) of Macrinus : " He ’s wealthier than most senator , so already has thoughts and design of the possible idea of take index from these two crazy princes . "
While Lucius is the lead in Ridley Scott ’s Gladiator II , Denzel Washington ’s Marcinus has a much more compelling revenge narration in the sequel .
In a movie where many political machinations are happening , and several theatrical role plot to overthrow the current authorities , Macrinus may have number across as just one of many such people in the scope . However , all these teases in the selling still add up to what is depict inGladiator II — at some point , hoi polloi should have asked themselves how far he would go and how much he could do before becoming the baddie . It ’s arguably theGladiator IItwist that was the least spoil , but still demonstrate this moving-picture show ’s strange marketing strategy and narrative .
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Cast
Gladiator 2 is the follow - up to Ridley Scott ’s laurels - gain film Gladiator from 2000 . Winfield Scott returns to maneuver the sequel , with Paul Mescal stare 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 book indite by David Scarpa in conclusion moved frontward .
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.
