Was Paul Mescal's Gladiator 2 Character In The First Movie?

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Summary Paul Mescal plays Lucius Verus in Gladiator II, an older version of the character from the first movie.

The sequel takes place 12-15 years after the original, with Lucius living in the wilderness and eventually involved in war and gladiatorial combat.

The real-world timeline difference led to recasting Lucius, with Mescal's age being more suitable for the in-universe timeline.

Gladiator II features Paul Mescal as the lead character, begging the question of whether he was in the first movie or is an original creation for the sequel. When it was announced that a sequel to Gladiator was in production, many were unsure of how this would be possible. The first movie centered so heavily on the titular gladiator Maximus Decimus Meridius and the events that led to his death, leading to queries about who would lead the second movie from director Ridley Scott.

Since then, however, more updates about Gladiator II's cast have been announced. It was confirmed that the main stars of the movie include Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Denzel Washington, the returning Connie Nielsen, and Paul Mescal. Gladiator II's trailer confirmed that the latter will be the central character of the story and provided the answer as to whether he is connected to the legend of Maximus.

Paul Mescal's Lucius Was In Gladiator 1 - His Character Explained

Lucius Verus Was Present In The Story Of Maximus

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In Gladiator II, Paul Mescal will portray Lucius Verus from the first movie. In Gladiator, Lucius was the child of Nielsen's Lucilla. Lucius struck up a friendship with Maximus early in the film before becoming co-Emperor of Rome alongside his conniving uncle, Joaquin Phoenix's Commodus. Toward the end of Gladiator, Lucius is present in the Colosseum when Maximus confronts Commodus. He watches as Commodus and Maximus are both killed, leading into the events of Gladiator II.

What Happened To Lucius After Gladiator?

Lucius' Story Between Gladiator & Gladiator II Has Been Hinted At

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In Gladiator II, Lucius is evidently much older than the young child shown at the end of Gladiator. Concerning what he has been through since then, some answers have been provided by director Ridley Scott and star Paul Mescal. The former was interviewed by Rotten Tomatoes during the press tour for Napoleon during which he was asked about Mescal's character. Scott revealed that Mescal was playing Lucius and explained that the film takes place around 12–15 years after Gladiator.

Scott went on to say that Lucius, since the first movie, has lost contact with his mother. Lucilla believes that Lucius is dead, with Scott explaining that he has been living "out in the wilderness." A further insight into the movie was provided by Vanity Fair, in which it is revealed that Lucius has been living in the town of Numidia on the northwest coast of Africa. Lucius was sent there by Lucilla to allow him to grow up without the shadow of the Roman Empire, but Gladiator II's trailer proves Mescal's Lucius becomes embroiled in war and gladiatorial combat eventually.

Why Did Gladiator 2 Recast Lucius?

The Real-World Timeline Between Gladiator & Gladiator II Likely Caused Lucius' Recast

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With Mescal portraying Lucius in Gladiator II, the burning question will be why Spencer Treat Clark did not return. Clark is the actor who played Lucius in Gladiator and is still working in the acting industry as of 2024. However, there is a simple reason as to why Mescal was cast as Lucius rather than bringing back Clark.

As Scott pointed out in the above interview, Gladiator II takes place around 12–15 years after the first movie in which Lucius was 12 years old. However, the span between Gladiator and Gladiator II in real life is 24 years, meaning Lucius' original actor is now 36 years old. Conversely, Mescal is 28 years of age, meaning he matches the in-universe age of Lucius much more closely than Clark. For this reason, Mescal is portraying the character in Gladiator II, continuing the legacy left behind by Maximus Decimus Meridius.