Although the epic tale of Maximus concluded in the original "Gladiator," his legend lives on in the sequel. The second trailer for "Gladiator II" reveals that Paul Mescal's fresh-faced hero has a rather powerful connection to Russell Crowe's grizzled fighter.
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00:00Although the epic tale of Maximus concluded in the original Gladiator, his legend lives
00:05on in the sequel.
00:06The second trailer for Gladiator 2 reveals that Paul Meskel's fresh-faced hero has a
00:10rather powerful connection to Russell Crowe's grizzled fighter.
00:13The rumors are true.
00:14When director Ridley Scott's Gladiator 2 finally hits theaters over two decades after the first,
00:19the film will continue the legacy of Maximus Decimus Meridius by showing audiences what
00:23happens to the next generation of his family.
00:26Lucius, portrayed by Paul Meskel, is taking on the same role played by Spencer Treat-Clark
00:30in the first film, Maximus' son.
00:33Lucius, take your father's strength.
00:36His name was Maximus, and I see him in you.
00:40While it's heavily implied in the first trailer, the second reveals the familial connection
00:44outright.
00:45This is an interesting twist, as the pre-publicity material for the film indicates that Maximus'
00:49former lover, Lucilla, will witness Lucius' battle in the arena, yet fail to recognize
00:54her own son since he's long estranged himself from her.
00:57As a matter of fact, he's been living just the kind of life his father wanted him to
01:01live, as a quiet parent and husband on a farm.
01:04Unfortunately, the Roman army ruins his life, just as Commodus ruined his father's.
01:09Time will tell if he survives the ruthless machinations of the Empire unlike his father,
01:13but for those curious as to how and why Lucius ended up where he is, the first movie plants
01:18the seeds of his fate.
01:19Being the original gladiator, Lucius' paternity is a secret, as Maximus and Lucilla are implied
01:24to be former lovers.
01:26At the same time, Lucilla is also shown dodging the advances of her own power-hungry brother,
01:31Commodus.
01:32Lucius, who's roughly ten or so at this point in time, is led to believe that he's the son
01:36of Lucilla's husband, who has been dead for five years when Maximus and Lucilla meet again.
01:41The movie strongly hints at the notion of Lucius being Maximus' son.
01:45Although nothing is directly stated, it's clear Maximus' heart lingers with the son
01:49and wife Commodus slaughtered to bring him to heel.
01:52When the fallen fighter dreams of the afterlife, it's a vision of his most peaceful place,
01:56his family's farm, where he can finally reunite with his late wife and child.
02:00The reveal in the trailer also indicates that Lucilla hasn't shared the truth about her
02:04son's origins with him in the intervening decade-plus, either.
02:07When Gladiator 2 opens, Lucius hasn't seen his mother for 15 years.
02:12It's unclear why they've been estranged, or how Lucius managed to escape from Rome after
02:15Commodus' death and the possible return of Roman power to the Senate.
02:19That Lucilla continues to hold a position of power in the capital during the second
02:23movie under the new twin emperors is a particularly curious detail.
02:27What exactly was she up to after the first film, but before the second?
02:30Hopefully, the sequel will get into the events that took place in between.
02:34Lucilla and Lucius aren't the only characters from the original Gladiator that are returning
02:38in Gladiator 2, as at least one more actor from the original film will show up in the
02:42sequel.
02:43Derek Jacoby is slated to reprise his role as Senator Gracchus, a former ally of Maximus
02:47who tries to help him start a coup during the first film.
02:50The question here is, will he extend a hand to help his old friend's son, or will he represent
02:55a new ruling class under the twin emperors who seem to be ready to outdo Commodus in
02:59their combined desire for power and authority?
03:01The odds are against you.
03:03The odds are always against me.
03:05Time will tell who ends up siding with Lucius, and who ends up falling in line with Rome's
03:08latest twin terrors when Gladiator 2 charges its way into theaters on November 15th, 2024.