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In 2001, Ridley Scott’sGladiatortook the world by storm, leaving a mark on the movie industry with the success it experienced at the box office. Not only did the movie succeed in terms of numbers, but it also won five Oscars along with multiple other prestigious awards. Two decades later, andGladiator IIis poised to make a dramatic entry.
The first movie was based on Russell Crowe’s Maximus, who fought his way up the Gladiator rankings to eventually defeat Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), who wanted to eliminate Maximus because his father, Emperor Marcus Aurelius, chose Crowe’s character as his successor over him.
Commodus then kills his father to become the emperor, and orders to have Maximus’ family executed after which the latter finds himself amongst slave traders who sell him to a Gladiator trainer and the rest is history.
But the movie also hinted at a complicated love story between Commodus’ sister, Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) who was married to Verus, a character that doesn’t appear in Scott’s first film. Lucilla also mothered a young boy, whom she named Lucius. For several years, people have been debating on who Lucius’ father is, was it Maximus or Verus?
Gladiator II’s trailer revealed who Lucius’ father is
Gladiator II’s storyline is centered on Lucius, who will be portrayed byPaul Mescalin the film. Mescal’s character didn’t make much of an appearance in the pilot film, but it was apparent that the young boy, who was portrayed by Spencer Treat Clark, looked up to Maximus.
According toEntertainment Weekly, Lucila sent Lucius away to protect him from the corrupt administration that led Rome. However, the rulers that took over Rome years later eventually captured and forced him into slavery after murdering his wife. While Mescal’s character prepares himself to become a Gladiator, he comes across his mother who worries about his well-being.
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However, in thetrailer, Lucila encourages Lucius to take inspiration from Maximus’ legacy to bring glory to Rome. But the biggest reveal was when she told Lucius that Maximus was his father, thus confirming the rumors that were being debated about by fans for years. The biggest giveaway of Lucius and Maximus’ connection in the first film was the latter’s history with Lucila. But there wasn’t any concrete evidence to prove it.
Connie Nielsen admitted she knew who Lucius’ father was all along
Now that the cat is out of the bag,Gladiator II’s story on Paul Mescal’s Lucius brings a whole new meaning to his fight against the ruling emperor. The cast will feature an array of new faces with onlyConnie Nielsenand Derek Jacobi reprising their roles as Lucila and Senator Gracchus.
“He could f**k sh*t up”: Paul Mescal’s Tall Claims on Who’d Win in a Real Fight Between Him and Pedro Pascal Will Get Fans Riled Up For Their Gladiator 2 Battle
Recently, Nielsen wasinterviewedonJake’s Takesby the Emmy Award-winning anchor, Jake Hamilton. The latter didn’t beat around the bush as the first question he asked the Danish actress was who she believed Lucius’ father was in the first movie. She claimed it was a secret she knew all along that it was Maximus.
[It was] Russell. If you go back and you see that film, there is a scene where I’m standing and introducing my son to Maximus. And when I shot that film, I had like a personal secret, actors always have personal secrets… and my personal secret was that he [Maximus] was the father.
Nielsen suggested that her character’s marriage to Verus wasn’t the greatest, and she couldn’t marry Maximus either since he wasn’t a high-ranking figure in the Roman Empire at the time. Lucila and Maximus’ romance might have continued behind closed doors, and Lucius eventually came into the picture.
Gladiator IIwill be released on July 09, 2025.
Rakibul John Rodgers
Articles Published :160
Rakib is a writer at Fandomwire. He loves to delve into the worlds of horror, mystery, and pop culture. With a keen interest in sports, particularly basketball and MMA, he stays up-to-date on the latest developments. Outside of writing, Rakib values time with loved ones and finds solace in music, his first love.
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Connie NielsenGladiatorGladiator IIPaul Mescal
