A new trailer forGladiator IIhas debuted. The highly-anticipated sequel sees Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal) walking in the footsteps of the deceased Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) as he becomes a gladiator and challenges the corrupt authority of Ancient Rome. Lucius will be aided inGladiator’s II’s storyby an ambitious power broker and former slave, Macrinus (Denzel Washington), while facing the might of General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal), Emperor Geta (Joseph Quinn), and Emperor Caracalla (Fred Hechinger).
Paramount Pictureshas now releaseda new trailer that teases more of the perilous challenges Lucius will face both inside and outside the Colosseum. Check out the trailer below:
While the trailer shows Lucius facing ferocious baboons and a rhinoceros, the biggest reveal is Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) explicitly telling him that Maximus is his father, confirming the 24-year-old theory that has existed since the originalGladiatorabout his parentage. The trailer also shows more of Macrinus' plot to gain further power for himself through Lucius and thereby undermine Emperors Geta and Caracalla.
What The Trailer’s Big Reveal Means For Gladiator II
There Are Further Stakes To Lucius' Journey
Now thatMaximus is confirmed to be Lucius' father, Lucius' mission inGladiator IIis even more personal and important. Lucius is fighting in the Colosseum and ultimately against General Acacius in order to slake his thirst for vengeance, but knowing that Maximus is his father makes that fight more meaningful and influential.DuringGladiator’s ending, Maximus dies trying to right the wrongs committed by Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) and to restore Rome to the way Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) intended it to be as a democratic and prosperous society.
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Despite Maximus' sacrifice, Rome has seemingly reverted to its worst self. Lucius must now defeat General Acacius, the Emperors, and all the other threats that are thrown his way to ensure that his father did not die in vain.Lucilla sees history repeating itself for the worse, but also sees in her son that he can also help history repeat itself for the better, as Lucius takes up his father’s mantle and becomes a formidable symbol that can stop Rome from the dark path it is currently on.
Our Take On Gladiator II’s Trailer Reveal
Gladiator II Will Be A Better Sequel With This Truth Already Confirmed
It is satisfying to finally have confirmation of Maximus being Lucius' father, as it has been widely believed to be the case since the originalGladiator.Instead of continuing to dance around the truth, it is better for it to be out in the open, allowing it to make Lucius' journey more meaningful in the sequel. It will also add additional layers to Lucius' relationship with Lucilla, with her being one of the few returningcharacters inGladiator II.Lucius is now officially more than a spiritual successor to Maximus inGladiator IIand will reshape the trajectory of Rome.
Gladiator II
Cast
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.
