Gladiator 2's Russell Crowe Replacement May Be Paying Off A 21-Year-Old Ridley Scott Idea

Summary Gladiator 2 might explore the idea that Lucius is really Maximus' son.

Director Ridley Scott's idea for Maximus' son dates back to an interview he gave in 2006.

Lucius, (Paul Mescal) will be the focal point of Gladiator 2, with Lucius being inspired by Maximus' acts of defiance against Rome.

Gladiator 2 may not be bringing back Russell Crowe as Maximus, but it could be paying off a decades-long Ridley Scott concept. Gladiator became an instant classic upon release in 2000, instantly revitalizing director Ridley Scott's career and making Russell Crowe a movie star. The movie wrapped up perfectly too, with Crowe's Maximus having achieved his revenge before succumbing to his wounds. Of course, when the film was a gigantic success, Maximus' unambiguous death made sequel discussions tricky.

That's why Gladiator 2 spent over two decades in development hell, with several concepts being pitched and rejected. Nick Cave's Gladiator 2 screenplay became somewhat infamous, with the plot involving Maximus being resurrected by the Roman Gods to slay Jesus Christ. After a period where it appeared a sequel would never happen, Scott has finally stepped back behind the camera for the upcoming Gladiator 2. Some familiar faces will return for the film, though Maximus remains deceased. Instead, it will be fronted by Paul Mescal as the adult Lucius, who was played by Spencer Treat Clark in the original.

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Ridley Scott Teased Lucius Being Maximus' Son Back In 2003

Gladiator 2 could resurrect an early idea for the sequel

When being interviewed for Rotten Tomatoes in 2006, Scott essentially ruled out Gladiator 2 ever happening. He revealed Crowe wasn't particularly interested in returning, and the story they had been developing back in 2003 didn't quite work. Scott also strongly implied Gladiator 2 would reveal Lucius was the son of Maximus and Connie Nielsen's Lucilla, stating it would explore the aftermath of the original and "Therefore, it would be to the son that Maximus had probably left behind with his affair with Lucilla."

Since revealing Lucius as Maximus' secret son was one of his earliest impulses for Gladiator 2, that could be the approach the plot will take. It wouldn't push credulity too much if this reveal happens, considering a past romance between Maximus and Lucilla was confirmed in the original.

It felt like a natural progression for Gladiator 2 to follow a grown-up Lucius, and that's the route the film is taking. Plot descriptions for the sequel don't suggest Lucius is revealed to be Maximus' son, or even hint at that angle. Even so, Scott is a filmmaker who tends to nest ideas away when it comes to sequels. Before rejoining the franchise with Prometheus, for instance, Scott always stated he would have preferred an Alien sequel to explore the origins of the Engineers instead.

To the surprise of no one, that was the plot of his eventual 2012 prequel. Since revealing Lucius as Maximus' secret son was one of his earliest impulses for Gladiator 2, that could be the approach Scott will take. It wouldn't push credulity too much if this reveal happens, considering a past romance between Maximus and Lucilla was confirmed in the original.

Gladiator 2's CinemaCon Trailer Sets Up Lucius Being Maximus' Son

The Gladiator sequel is already dropping hints about Lucius' parentage

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Lucilla is also returning for the sequel and based on descriptions of the CinemaCon 2024 trailer for the Ridley Scott movie, will have a key supporting role. The Gladiator 2 preview showed Lucilla handing Maximus' ring to Lucius, presumably to give him a good luck charm when he heads into battle. Now, this could simply be a case of Lucius having major hero worship for Maximus, having watched all his arena battles and even witnessed him killing Lucius' evil uncle, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Lucius even states during Gladiator 2's trailer:

I remember that day. I never forgot it. That a slave could take revenge against an emperor. That a slave could get justice in the arena.

The sequel will clearly see Lucius following in Maximus' footsteps, but receiving the latter's ring from his mother could hold a deeper meaning. Lucilla could reveal to Lucius that he truly is Maximus' son, which is a secret she didn't even reveal to Maximus himself. The exact timeline between when Maximus and Lucilla's romance ended is vague enough for the timeline to work and could add some emotional weight to the story.

The other key actor from Gladiator returning for the sequel is Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus.

Why Lucius Being Maximus' Son Would Be Good For Gladiator 2

The Gladiator sequel can carry on Maximus' legacy in more ways than one

The original involved Maximus righting a terrible wrong, even if it cost him his life. The setup for Gladiator 2 suggests Maximus' epic act of defiance lingered on in Rome, and not only through Lucius. Other new players in the sequel - including Pedro Pascal's military commander turned gladiator and Denzel Washington's ex-slave turned arms dealer - are seeking to start a revolution in Rome. Lucius himself will be key to this plot, so it would hold special significance if he is revealed to be Maximus' child.

His father's rejection drove Commodus to become bitter and to only live for power, but if Gladiator 2 makes Lucius into Maximus' child, the opposite could be true. He would follow his father's example of seeking justice and challenging the corrupt.

Again, this all comes down to how the story is told. If Scott uses this reveal for the sake of having connective tissue with the original, it could feel like it was ripped from a soap opera. However, the original Gladiator was largely about unlikely fathers and sons, from Maximus' relationship with both Richard Harris' emperor Marcus Aurelius to his gladiator trainer Proximo (Oliver Reed).

There was also Lucius' relationship with his corrupt uncle Commodus, who was spurned by his own father. His father's rejection drove Commodus to become bitter and to only live for power, but if Gladiator 2 makes Lucius into Maximus' child, the opposite could be true. He would follow his father's example of seeking justice and challenging the corrupt, which surely would be part of Maximus' legacy within Rome.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes