Paul Mescal’s Lucius is the replacement character for Russell Crowe’s Maximus in Gladiator 2, and though there’s a lot of excitement surrounding the new lead figure, I’m officially concerned about his fate. Crowe won’t be returning for the Gladiator sequel, considering the character was killed off in Ridley Scott’s original movie. Even if, by some miracle, Crowe appears in some kind of surprise cameo, Maximus won’t be the leading force as we all witnessed in the 2000 movie. Gladiator 2‘s story will greatly focus on Mescal’s character, who isn’t really a stranger to Gladiator fans.

Paul Mescal might be a newcomer among Gladiator 2′s cast when it comes to franchise roles, but the actual character of Lucius was in the first Gladiator movie. The former heir and son of Lucilla was originally played by Spencer Treat Clark. Mescal is taking over as the adult version of Lucius, who had built a life for himself in Numidia before becoming enslaved by the Romans. While a complicated family dynamic will be at play with Lucilla still in the mix, Lucius will be focused on survival once he’s forced to fight as a gladiator, just like Maximus.

Lucius’ Link To Maximus In Gladiator 2 Sets Up A Tragic Fate For Paul Mescal’s Character

Lucius & Maximus Have A Lot In Common

There’s no question that Mescal’s Lucius is meant to become the new Maximus in Gladiator 2. However, the trailer directly proves how Gladiator 2 is using Lucius to copy Russell Crowe’s character. Not only will Lucius’ journey mirror what Maximus went through, becoming a captor turned gladiator, but it also seems like Lucius will also lose his wife and child. The detail would call back to Gladiator’s haunting sequence with Maximus discovering the death of his family. Sadly, if you’re already hoping for a positive outcome for Mescal’s character, the connection to Maximus suggests that Lucius will end up dying in Gladiator 2.

Gladiator 2‘s trailer showcases incredibly intense battles, including several gladiator fights in the Colosseum. We can expect Lucius to be a primary figure in most of the sequel’s action sequences, but the most compelling Gladiator 2 battle will be between Lucius and Pedro Pascal’s Marcus Acacius. Lucius has a personal vendetta against the Roman army, so I can see why he would have his sights on fighting a general of that army, especially if he had a hand in ruining his life. My fear is that Lucius’ fight with Acacius will follow Maximus vs. Commodus, meaning the outcome could lead to Lucius’ death if he’s truly following in Maximus’ footsteps.

Why Killing Off Paul Mescal’s Lucius Would Be A Bad Idea For Gladiator 2

The Gladiator Sequel Would Risk Too Much Repetition

With Mescal already being presented as Gladiator 2‘s young heroic figure, I can’t help but want to root for his character. That said, it would be risky for Scott’s Gladiator sequel to follow the original movie too closely. Having Lucius become the new Maximus is a great decision, in my opinion, but giving the two characters the same fate following a similar battle pitting a gladiator against a Roman in power would be extremely repetitive. Any heroic nature or efforts for Lucius’ cause would be instantly less impactful if the sequel doesn’t take a fresh narrative route.

There’s also the fact that Paul Mescal is quickly becoming one of the most popular names in Hollywood, and his involvement is a massive win whether you’re familiar with his work or not. Killing off his character prevents any possible continuation of the franchise. If Lucius comes out of the sequel alive, I’d be up for continuing his story as long as it leads to more of Scott’s take on ancient Roman history. The story’s direction already sets up Mescal as the perfect person to continue leading the franchise beyond Gladiator 2, but it all depends on his sequel fate.

Gladiator II

Release Date

November 22, 2024

Distributor(s)

Paramount Pictures

Writers

David Scarpa

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