New images and details of Paul Mescal’s character in Gladiator 2, Lucius Verus, have been released, and they give a hint at the upcoming epic’s plot. Gladiator 2 is the long-awaited sequel to Ridley Scott’s historical epic Gladiator. The original movie starred Russel Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a former Roman general who was forced to fight to the death in the Colosseum. For months, there were very few confirmed details about Gladiator 2, but a new reveal has given huge insights into the coming sequel and the main cast of Gladiator 2.

Gladiator 2 is set to focus on Lucius Verus II, played by Paul Mescal. Lucius appeared in the original Gladiator, but since Gladiator 2 takes place years later, Mescal plays a grown up version of the same character. Since he appeared in the original, though, there’s quite a bit known about Lucius. That, in combination with the new images and details, paint a fairly in-depth look at Gladiator 2‘s leading role, and the effect he’ll have on both the Colosseum and Ancient Rome.

Lucius’ Role In The First Gladiator Movie

In the original Gladiator, Lucius was the co-emperor of Rome alongside the film’s main antagonist, Commodus. Though he held a position of immense power, Lucius was still just a child, which effectively made Commodus the sole emperor of Rome. His young age actually prevented Lucius from taking a very active role in Gladiator at all. Lucius’ biggest effect on the movie’s plot was in how he influenced other people. Commodus threatened to kill Lucius to coerce Lucilla, his mother, into producing an heir. Maximus also refrained from killing Commodus the first chance he got, because Lucius was present, and he didn’t want to traumatize the young boy.

Why Was Lucius Recast For Gladiator 2?

While Mescal was a great choice to play Lucius in Gladiator 2, it also came as a bit of a surprise. Spencer Treat Clark, the actor who originally played Lucius as a child, seemed like a natural choice for the sequel. Gladiator 2 takes place about 20 years after Gladiator, and while Clark is older than Mescal, he still looks young enough to take on the role. Clark has even reprised one of his childhood roles as an adult before, as he played Joseph Dunn in both 2000’s Unbreakable and in 2019’s Glass.

Clark may have been the obvious choice for continuity’s sake, but director Ridley Scott had a different goal in mind when he cast Mescal in Gladiator 2. According to Total Film, Scott chose Mescal to play Lucius after he watched Normal People. Mescal starred as Connell in the miniseries, and though Normal People is very different from Gladiator 2, Scott said he saw something in the young actor. When asked about the decision, Scott said, “Can I see Paul Mescal being as big as Russell Crowe? For sure.”

Along with Scott’s vision for Mescal, the actor also brings quite a bit to the role that surely helped secure him a spot in Gladiator 2. While speaking with Vanity Fair, Mescal said that he had trained extensively “to be big and strong and look like somebody who can cause a bit of damage.” Mescal clearly worked quite hard to look the part of a gladiator, but he also said “My nose is just kind of Roman.” When asked about Scott’s decision to cast him, Mescal said it all happened very quickly after a short conversation, without even a camera test.

What Happened To Lucius After Gladiator

The Vanity Fair article also contained a few hints at what the plot of Gladiator 2 will be, specifically in regard to Lucius’ role. After Maximus’ death at the end of Gladiator, Lucius’ mother, Lucilla, sent him away from the Roman Empire to the northern coast of Africa, in a region called Numidia. His time in Numidia hardened Lucius, and he became a skilled warrior. It’s likely that Lucilla sent Lucius away to protect him from the power vacuum left by Commodus’ death, and the politicians vying for control of Rome. Still, that decision caused a rift between Lucilla and her son.

Lucius’ Story In Gladiator 2

Gladiator 2 will pick up years after the original, once Lucius has become an adult and established a family in Numidia. Troops from the Roman Empire, led by Pedro Pascal’s Marcus Acacius, then come to Numidia’s shores to conquer it. Eventually, Lucius is taken prisoner by Acacius’ troops and brought back to Rome as a prisoner, where he’ll be forced to fight as a gladiator. In his first round in the arena, however, Lucius sees his mother in the royal box, next to her romantic partner, Acacius. That leads Lucius to fight Acacius again, and leads him down a bloody path to fighting all of Rome.

Scott revealed that after the events of Gladiator, when Maximus urged them to free the Empire of corruption and return to the Republic, Rome did not listen. Instead, the Empire devolved even further, and is worse in Gladiator 2 than it ever was in the past. The two emperors at the time – Carcalla and Geta – ruled with a sadistic iron fist. They reportedly threaten Lucilla’s life to control Acacius, and disregard the well-being of Rome while they’re at it. The rotten state of Rome then angers Lucius even further, but only the release of Gladiator 2 will be able to show what happens next.

Is Lucius The Son Of Russell Crowe’s Maximus?

In the original Gladiator, the true parentage of Lucius wasn’t made completely certain. He was said to be the child of Lucilla and Lucius Verus I, the former Emperor of Rome. However, Maximus and Lucilla had a romantic past, and Lucius seemed to view Maximus as a type of father figure in Lucius I’s absence. Throughout Gladiator, Lucius idolized Maximus and wanted him to win every battle, and his memory will likely have an effect on the young man in Gladiator 2. Though there were several implications, the original Gladiator never outright confirmed whether Lucius was Maximus’ son.

It does, however, seem very likely that Gladiator 2 will reveal that Lucius was, in fact, Maximus’ son. Scott told UGO (via Rotten Tomatoes) in 2006 that he imagined Gladiator 2 would reveal that Lucius was the product of Maximus’ affair with Lucilla. Gladiator 2 has infamously gone through several rewrites since 2006, but it’s entirely possible that the idea of having Lucius as Maximus’ son has survived. It would be thematically poignant and establish a direct link between the two movies, which will be especially important after more than 20 years.

Who The Real-Life Lucius Was & What Happened To Him

While he has a legendary role in the world of Gladiator 2, the real-life version of Lucius Verus II didn’t have nearly as much time to cement his name in history books. In real life, Lucius Verus I and Lucilla had three children, and they all died at very young ages, Lucius II included. Lucius II actually died before Commodus ever became Emperor, as the original Gladiator took quite a few creative liberties with the timeline and historical facts of Ancient Rome. Since he died at such a young age, very little is known about the real Lucius Verus II.

The mere fact that Lucius is still alive well into his 20s in Gladiator 2 makes the movie historically inaccurate, but that’s hardly new for director Ridley Scott. Maximus Decimus Meridius wasn’t a real person in Gladiator, but instead an amalgamation of several historical figures. To Scott, the intricate details of history aren’t as important as the stories and lessons that can be gleaned from historical moments. Scott didn’t let historical accuracy get in the way of making Gladiator a good movie, and he clearly won’t let it get in the way of Gladiator 2 or Paul Mescal’s Lucius Verus II.

Source: Vanity Fair, Total Film, Rotten Tomatoes