When Paramount Pictures finally announced the Ridley Scott film Gladiator II was in the works, fans had a lot of questions. Some wanted to know how the story could naturally progress after the death of Russell Crowe’s Maximus. Others wondered if it made sense to focus on another gladiator doing the same thing: fighting oppressive Roman politicians.

Despite concerns about how the sequel could succeed without Russell Crowe, the studio still spoiled the big twist that answered that question. Paul Mescal played Lucius, the secret son Maximus had with Lucilla, the former emperor’s daughter. Even though this was a marketing strategy to draw people into the story of Maximus’ dynasty and legacy, it was a serious PR mistake as it hurt the creative backbone of the film .

Gladiator II spoils Lucius’ bloodline and hurts Lucilla’s Arc

Lucilla and Lucius’ relationship lacked intrigue

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In addition to Lucius’ storyline, Gladiator II it is also Lucilla who fights against what was stolen from her. She sends Lucius away from his childhood, to prevent him from dying in a coup d’état following the death of Marcus Aurelius. The film brings back an adult Lucius as Hanno, a slave who recognizes his mother but hates her. Instead, he wants to kill her husband, General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal), and harm the twin emperors, Geta and Caracalla, whose soldiers killed Hanno’s people and his wife, Arishat. The problem is that there is no tension or mystery in the dance between Hanno and Lucilla. Asking him to find clues about his personality in and out of the arena would have resonated better if fans hadn’t already known Hanno was his son..

Paul Mescal Details

Preserving the mystery of Hanno’s origins would have created additional intrigue in knowing who she was, but hiding why he hated her. Instead, all of their dialogue is predictable, just like Hanno reciting lines and using the sand from the arena to confirm that he is his lost son and Maximus’ heir. This surprise would have allowed the audience to be more connected to their respective journeys, the reconciliation and Lucilla realizing she had a second chance to take the throne and restore the democracy her father and Maximus desired. It would also have pulled the rug out from under viewers, as Hanno would have hidden why he hated his birthright: all it had brought was tragedy and bloodshed.

Gladiator II spoils Lucius’ secret and diminishes Macrinus’ investigations

Macrinus’ detective work has lost its sense of mystery and tension

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Gladiator II revolves around Denzel Washington’s Macrinus buying Hanno as a slave and wanting to use him in his army as part of a coup to take the throne. Macrinus also discovers clues to Hanno’s true identity. He ends up using it as a weapon against Lucilla and tricks Hanno into becoming a political puppet in the Colosseum. If the marketing had kept things a secret, Macrinus’ detective work would have had more suspense. Unfortunately, his scenes of snooping and getting information are a waste of time.

Fans know what he will find and what his next move will be: using Lucius against Acacius.. This takes away from Macrinus’ awesome arc. If the truth had been kept in ignorance, this revelation would have been a great moment, especially since Macrinus was having lunch to let Lucilla know that he knew the secret and her weakness. Ultimately, Hanno’s true identity makes for some interesting cinema. But it was something that should have been a shock. It’s unfortunate that films waste so many big hooks in their marketing.

Comic book movies are also notorious for spoiling their major reveals during marketing campaigns. However, superhero films (especially in the Marvel Cinematic Universe) are now trying to avoid spoilers after backlash from fans and criticism over how the theatrical experience was ruined in terms of storytelling. Unfortunately, Gladiator II falls into this trap. This detracts from the dramatic effect that the Hanno/Lucius arc would have had and the impact it would have had on several characters in the Roman Civil War, including Macrinus.

Gladiator II is now in theaters.

Follows Lucius, the son of Maximus’ love Lucilla, after Maximus’s death.

Director

Ridley Scott

Release date

November 22, 2024

Cast

Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Derek Jacobi, May Calamawy, Peter Mensah, Matt Lucas, Alexander Karim, Tim McInnerny, Lee Charles, Chidi Ajufo, Alfie Tempest, Riana Duce, Chi Lewis Parry, Paul Candelent, Hadrian Howard, Alexander Simkin, Mikhail Basmadjian, Matthieu Charlery-Smith, Maxime Durand, Lior Raz

Writers

David Scarpa, Peter Craig, David Franzoni

Runtime

148 minutes

Main genre

Adventure

Studio(s)

Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Scott Free Productions, Red Wagon Entertainment

Distributor(s)

Paramount Pictures

Character(s)

Lucius Verus, Marcus Acacius, Macrinus, Lucilla, Emperor Caracalla, Emperor Geta, Gracchus

Develop