Gladiator 2’s Advertising Ruined The Film’s Largest Twist

Spoilers for “Gladiator II” comply with.

Ridley Scott has been speaking about making a “Gladiator” sequel for years. The primary movie opened in theaters in 2000 and have become each a giant hit and an Oscar winner, so a sequel appeared inevitable. There was only one downside: the movie’s primary character, Russell Crowe’s Maximus, died on the finish. Irrespective of: Nick Cave was introduced in to jot down a wild and loopy script that resurrected Maximus from the useless through the supernatural. Sadly, this screenplay proved too bizarre to get made. Now, Scott has made a considerably extra conventional sequel that always appears like a remake of the primary movie (you possibly can learn our evaluate proper right here). Somewhat than carry Maximus again from the useless, “Gladiator II” focuses on a brand new character performed by Paul Mescal. Though “new” in all probability is not the proper phrase, as Mescal’s character appeared within the authentic “Gladiator.”

Virtually as quickly as “Gladiator II” was formally introduced, we knew that Mescal could be taking part in Lucius, a personality who was a baby within the authentic movie the place he was performed by Spencer Deal with Clark. Lucius was the son of Lucilla, an Empress performed by Connie Nielsen, who returns for “Gladiator II.” In that first movie, we had been instructed Lucius’ father, Lucius Verus, was useless (extra on that in a second), and as “Gladiator” progressed, the younger Lucius got here to admire Maximus as the previous basic turned slave turned a beloved gladiator who saved Rome from Lucius’ uncle, the evil Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Since Lucius was a child within the first “Gladiator,” and “Gladiator II” is about a few years after the primary movie, it is sensible to have the now-adult Lucius be the primary character of the sequel. 

Once more: we have identified Paul Mescal is taking part in Lucius in “Gladiator II” for fairly a while now. However weirdly sufficient, “Gladiator II” treats his identification as a shock. And that shock finally ends up feeling fairly weak and uninspired ultimately.

When “Gladiator II” begins, we see Mescal’s character as a warrior combating off Roman invaders in Numidia, positioned in North Africa. Surprisingly sufficient, everybody retains calling Mescal’s character Hanno. Hanno finally ends up watching his warrior spouse Arishat (Yuval Gonen) killed on the order of Roman Basic Acacius (Pedro Pascal), solely to then be captured and transported to Rome as a slave. As soon as in Rome, Hanno is bought by gladiator promotor and arms supplier Macrinus (Denzel Washington, who steals all the movie), and is then compelled to change into a gladiator who finally finally ends up combating in Colosseum.

Throughout one in all his Colosseum fights, Hanno is watched from the viewers by Lucilla, who rapidly has a stunning realization: this man within the area everybody calls Hanno is her long-lost son Lucius! After this, we’re finally proven a flashback the place Lucilla sends the younger Lucius away for his personal security. Lucilla confronts the grownup Lucius, who rejects her, bitter at having been despatched away and seemingly forgotten all these years in the past. However once more: we, the viewers, already knew this man was Lucius. The film treats this revelation as a giant dramatic twist, however anybody being attentive to the advertising and marketing for “Gladiator II” knew it beforehand.

And that is not the one twist the advertising and marketing spoiled. Keep in mind once I stated that Lucius was considered the son of a useless man named Lucius Verus? Properly, one of many “Gladiator II” trailers went forward and revealed that wasn’t the case in any respect. As a substitute, Lucius is really the son of Maximus. This, in fact, opens up an entire new can of worms: Maximus was proven to be wholly dedicated to his spouse within the first “Gladiator,” and sought revenge for her brutal homicide. And but … he apparently had an affair with Lucilla in some unspecified time in the future? To be honest, perhaps the affair that spawned Lucius occurred earlier than Maximus was married. In any case, the truth that Lucius is Maximus’ son is additionally handled as a twist, however once more, we already knew this due to the advertising and marketing. This does not wreck the film as an entire, nevertheless it does find yourself robbing it of a few of its dramatic energy, and I am unable to assist however marvel if the movie would play in another way had these supposed twists remained a secret. 

“Gladiator II” is now taking part in in theaters.