There was once a lot of mystery surrounding Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II. Who is Denzel Washington’s mysterious character? Why is Pedro Pascal’s Roman general fighting in the Colosseum? And, who is Lucius’ (Paul Mescal) father? Sadly, the promotional material for the long-awaited sequel, most notably, its two jumbo-sized trailers have revealed a bit too much about the movie, including the answer to that final pivotal question. The latest trailer unceremoniously revealed that Lucius is the biological son of Maximus Decimus Meridius (played by Russel Crowe in Gladiator).
Speaking to GQ, Paul Mescal addressed the reveal and what it means for Lucius within the story. First played by Spencer Treat Clark in Gladiator, Lucius is the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen). Mescal plays Lucius over a decade after the original movie, after he has fled Rome. “Lucius has got a very clear propulsion and aversion to Rome, because of something that’s personally traumatizing from his past,” the actor began. The first “teaser” (which was longer than most trailers) highlighted Lucius fighting against the Roman legionaries in a bloody war.
“Then you see him discover what his bloodline is,” Mescall continued. In the trailers, it is clear that Lucius is inspired by Maximus’ plight against Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), and holds a similar hatred for the Roman elite. However, after learning of his heritage, Lucius struggles to reconcile his own desires with his father’s original allegiances and beliefs. Mescall explained:
“So he begins the film with this hatred of Rome. As the film progresses,
he realizes that he’s actually got an obligation to protect it
because it’s falling into disarray.”
Why Did Gladiator II Spoil Lucius’ Heritage?
There has been a growing consensus among online moviegoers about spoilers revealing too much about the movie, with YouTube trailers repeatedly being hit with comments like, “I feel like I’ve watched the entire movie!” and, “Why spoil everything in the trailer?” The first trailer was met with unusual backlash towards its choice of music, but the second teaser for Gladiator II faced immense scrutiny after revealing the major spoiler about Lucius.
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There are several reasons why Gladiator II‘s marketing team might have included the scene in the trailer. Firstly, there is the chance that the trailer wasn’t overseen or approved by Ridley Scott, and was cut together by some overzealous PR associates. As unfathomable as that might sound, it wouldn’t be the first time this year something like that has happened. A24’s latest, We Live in Time, became an online sensation after its first poster featured a bizarre looking figurine horse which went viral. And let’s not mention the fiasco over Megalopolis’ fake reviews.
Most realistically, the reveal was included in the trailer to not disappoint audiences when they eventually get to see Gladiator II. There has been so much online debate about who Lucius’ father is since the release of Gladiator that, no matter what path Ridley Scott went down, it was bound to upset some fans. As a result, the trailer might have included the moment to quell that disappointment early, giving audiences a fresh and solidified perspective when watching the film, and potentially enhancing that all important CinemaScore grading on opening night.