Warning! This article contains spoilers for Gladiator 2.
Lucius Verus, the main hero ofGladiator2, is based on a real historical figure, though one whose life was much different than it is depicted in Ridley Scott’s movies.Paul Mescal plays Lucius inGladiator 2,taking over the role fromGladiator’s Spencer Treat Clark. As the lead ofGladiator 2’s cast of characters, much of the film’s focus rests squarely on Lucius' shoulders as he embarks on a similar arc to Maximus, going from a soldier desiring peace to a gladiator who defies the Roman Empire.
Like many ofGladiator’s real-life-inspired characters, Lucius Verus existed in Roman history. Admittedly,GladiatorandGladiator 2are by no means pillars of history come to life faithfully, yet many aspects are versed in the real machinations of the Roman Empire’s politics. Where Mescal’s character specifically is concerned, however, massive changes are made to his arc by the time ofGladiator’s climactic ending, withGladiator 2only further taking Lucius further into the realm of fiction.
Lucius Verus II Was The Son Of Lucilla & Roman Emperor Lucius Verus
As alluded to, Lucius Verus did exist in Roman history. Interestingly, there were two prominent Lucius Verus'. The first was Emperor Lucius Verus, who ruled alongsideGladiator’s Marcus Aurelius. The two ruled as co-Emperors as they were adoptive brothers of Antoninus Pius, with Lucius' reign only lasting between 161 AD and 169 AD before his death. Lucius Verus was married to Lucilla, another character fromGladiatorwith a semblance of historical accuracy.
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Lucilla gave birth to three children sired by Lucius Verus, one of these being Lucius Verus II, on whom Paul Mescal’sGladiator 2character is based. However, this is where much of the historical accuracy ofGladiatorandGladiator 2comes to an end regarding Lucius. Both movies drastically change the life of Lucius Verus, for the benefit of their characters and narratives.
Gladiator 2’s Lucius Transformation Is Not Based On History
In real history,all three of Lucilla and Lucius Verus' children tragically died at a young age from unclear causes, including Lucius Verus II. Lucius' death came before his uncle, Commodus, became the Roman Emperor in 180 AD, making the young boy seen inGladiatordefy history as he should never have been alive. The originalGladiatorinvolving Lucius Verus is where the historical inaccuracies begin, yet it is certainly not where they end, given the storyline of the young boy in the time betweenGladiator,its sequel, and the events of the 2024 film itself.
Gladiator 2reveals that Lucius was sent away by Lucilla shortly after the death ofGladiator’s Maximus Decimus Meridius. Lucilla exiled her son as a means of keeping him away from the corrupt Roman senators who would have used his connections to two former emperors for their own gain. It was revealed that Lucius eventually settled in Numidia, a kingdom located on the northwestern coast of Africa. There, Lucius became part of a community and eventually grew up to find a wife, Arishat.
The kingdom of Numidia comprised the territory in Africa that now makes up the countries of Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.
Gladiator 2outlines Lucius' journey from this point on. After the death of his wife at the hands of the invading Roman Army, Lucius becomes a gladiator and attempts to get revenge against the Roman general he believes is at fault for this.As evident from Lucius Verus II’s real life, though, none of this should ever have happened, movingGladiator 2further away from the real history on which it is based.
What Will Happen To Lucius After Gladiator 2?
Given that Ridley Scott already has ideas forGladiator 3, the question of what becomes of Lucius is necessary. The ending ofGladiator 2sees Lucius survive the film’s events, outliving the twin Roman Emperors, Caracalla and Geta, and the conniving Macrinus. This positions Lucius as the prince of Rome, complete with the support of the Roman Army, the Praetorian guard, and the Roman people, due to his blood relation to both Marcus Aurelius and Maximus.
Gladiator 2 also changes history by omitting Lucius Verus I’s rule, and changing Lucius Verus II’s parentage as he is the son of Maximus.
InGladiator 3, Lucius could be shown trying to navigate this position of power in an attempt to instill Marcus Aurelius' dream of Rome. Marcus Aurelius wanted Rome to return to a republic, one that was run by the citizens rather than corrupt politicians. Lucius knows of this by the time ofGladiator2’s ending and could begin laying the groundwork for a republic inGladiator 3among the dishonorable politicians of Rome who would see the beneficial empire continue.
Gladiator II
Cast
Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
