Summary
WhileGladiator IIis a continuation of the story that began inGladiator, several significant characters from the first film are not in the sequel. Set more than two decades afterGladiator, thesequel’s story revolves around Lucius Verus(Paul Mescal) becoming a gladiator and challenging the authority in Ancient Rome. Lucius was first introduced inGladiatoras the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and was played by Spencer Treat Clark, but director Ridley Scott recast the role with Mescal.
Due to the deaths of Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) and Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) at theend ofGladiator, the original protagonist and antagonist are unable to return, although there were early discussions of a sequel featuring Maximus in the afterlife that never came to fruition. In addition to Mescal and a star-studded cast including Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Fred Hechinger, Nielsen returns to reprise her role as Lucilla, as does Derek Jacobi in the role of Senator Gracchus. This still leaves many important survivingGladiatorcharacters who are not part of the story’s next chapter.
Fine, I’m Sold On Gladiator 2 After This Major Denzel Washington Tease
Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II will most definitely be a spectacle, but I’m even more excited after hearing Denzel Washington’s comments on the sequel.
6Juba
Played By: Djimon Hounsou
Juba is the most prominent survivingGladiatorcharacter who is not in the sequel. As a fellow slave and gladiator,Juba became a close friend and ally to Maximusas they helped each other, with their friendship being at the heart of the film and its underdog story. Unlike Maximus, Juba survived the events ofGladiator, and returned to the Colosseum, where he buried the figurines Maximus carried of his wife and son. Juba spoke of the freedom he and Maximus had won and how he and Maximus would meet again one day, but"not yet."
Why Juba Isn’t Returning
Djimon Hounsou was originally announced to be reprising his role alongside Connie Nielsen in April 2023. In December 2023,Hounsou shared that he would no longer be in the sequel, despite his initial involvement, due to scheduling conflicts with other projects in his career. It remains to be seen if Juba’s absence will be addressed inGladiator II.
In the years sinceGladiator’s release, Hounsou starred inBlood Diamond, for which he received an Academy Award nomination, and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, DCEU, andA Quiet Placefranchises.
5Quintus
Played By: Tomas Arana
Quintus was initially a friend and ally to Maximus and served beside him duringGladiator’s opening battle between the Roman army and the Germanic tribes. Despite this, Quintus sided with Commodus after the death of Marcus Aurelius and had Maximus arrested, with Quintus choosing to serve Commodus during the cruel leader’s reign.Quintus later redeemed himselfby refusing to help Commodus when he faced Maximus, commanding the Praetorian Guards not to help Commodus either, and honoring Maximus' dying wishes.
Why Quintus Isn’t Returning
While there is not a confirmed reason for Quintus not appearing, it may be becausehe is too similar to Pascal’s new character, General Marcus Acacius. Just like Quintus, Acacius once served alongside Maximus and is a capable warrior who has been promoted into a powerful leadership position. After more than two decades, it is also plausible that Quintus no longer commands the Praetorian Guards, especially sinceGladiator II’s Emperor Geta and Emperor Caracallamight be wary of a man who ultimately sided with Maximus over Commodus, who was emperor at the time.
4Antonius Proximo
Played By: Oliver Reed
Antonius Proximo was the gladiator trainer who purchased Maximus from slave traders.Proximo recognized Maximus' potential as a formidable gladiator and mentored him, helping Maximus to understand the importance of winning over the crowd who watch the gladiatorial games, which Proximo did as a gladiator who used the games to win his freedom. After later learning Maximus' true identity, his history, and his mission, Proximo ultimately gave up his own life to help Maximus escape and continue his fight against Commodus and for the good of Rome.
Why Antonius Proximo Isn’t Returning
The actor who played Proximo,Oliver Reed, passed away in 1999, beforeGladiatorfinished filming. Some of Reed’s scenes required a body double and CGI in order for the film to be completed. InGladiator II, Washington’s character,Macrinus appears to be playing a character similar to Proximo, with Macrinus being a former slave who trains and mentors Lucius, and intends to use Lucius to shape Rome’s future.
Oliver Reed was posthumously nominated by BAFTA and the Screen Actors Guild for his performance inGladiator.
3Senator Falco
Played By: David Schofield
Senator Falco was first introduced when Commodus introduced the politician to Maximus after he led the Roman army to victory against the Germanic tribes. After Commodus' ascension to the throne, Falco became a close ally and advisor to him.Falco advised Commodus on a brutal strategy to use against his enemies, including Maximus, which Commodus followed in the ruthless way he responded to Maximus and by killing or threatening to hurt those closest to him.
Why Senator Falco Isn’t Returning
Falco’s fate after the deaths of Maximus and Commodus was never confirmed, buthe likely lost his power due to his close ties with Commodus. After the righteous Senator Gracchus was reinstated, he would have done everything in his power to see that Falco no longer held any political influence. While his past could indicate him being a useful ally to Emperor Geta and Emperor Caracalla, without his former position, they likely would have no reason to recruit Falco as an ally.
2Cassius
Played By: David Hemmings
Cassius was the master of ceremonies who presided over and narrated the events of the gladiatorial games in the Colosseum. He had a guttural, booming voice and presented a great deal of stage presence thatserved Commodus' goals of turning the games into an entertaining spectaclemeant to distract the masses from the larger problems plaguing Rome.
Why Cassius Isn’t Returning
David Hemmings passed away in 2003, three years afterGladiator’s theatrical release. Given the unique and attention-grabbing cadence of Cassius' voice, it will be difficult for a new character to announce the events ofGladiator II’s games as effectively as Hemmings did in the original film. In-universe, it is reasonable to assume that a different individual is master of ceremonies after more than two decades, and that Emperor Geta and Emperor Caracalla have selected their own individual for this role.
1Tigris Of Gaul
Played By: Sven-Ole Thorsen
Tigris of Gaul was a legendary gladiatorwho had a reputation for being undefeated. Eager to see Maximus defeated for all of Rome to see in the Colosseum, Commodus had Tigris fight Maximus, believing Tigris would put an end to the threat posed by Maximus' unexpected return. Maximus not only defeated Tigris, but chose to spare his opponent’s life, as Commodus commanded him to do so, and Maximus' refusal in front of the Roman people was a powerful show of resistance.
Why Tigris Of Gaul Isn’t Returning
Commodus took Tigris out of retirement to fight Maximus. Between retirement, having his legendary reputation ruined by Maximus, and the more than two decades that have since passed,Tigris' glory days as a gladiator are over. Tigris' experience and history with Maximus could have potentially made him a viable mentor to Lucius, but it appears that Macrinus will be fulfilling this role instead inGladiator II.
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.
