Gladiator II, whichis set to be released on November 22, changes the meaning behind Maximus rubbing his hands with dirt in the originalGladiator, as revealed inGladiator II’sfirst look images and trailer.It has been 24 years since the release of Ridley Scott’sGladiator, which starred Russell Crowe as the lead character, and the movie has become one of thebest movies about Ancient Rome. However, thetimeline of theGladiatorfilmsis a little different, as Ridley Scott revealed that only 12–15 years have passed since Maximus’ death at the end of the first movie.
Gladiator IIhosts a star-studded cast, and will follow the story of Lucius Verus, the nephew of Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus, who was originally played by Spencer Treat Clark in the firstGladiatorfilm. Ever sinceGladiator II’strailer was released,there have been comparisons between Paul Mescal’s Lucius and Russell Crowe’s Maximus, especially as Lucius uses the surrounding dirt in his fighting. Maximus was known for his unusual dirt ritual in 2000’sGladiator, as he would often grab a handful and smell it before a fight in the arena, butGladiator IIappears to change the reason behind it.
Gladiator 2 Turns Maximus' Dirt Ritual Into An Act Of Respect
Maximus Performs The Ritual In Tribute
Gladiator IIturns Maximus' dirt ritual into an act of respect as Lucius copies the ritual in an ode to the fallen gladiator. InGladiator, Maximus was originally a farmer in Trujillo before he became a famous gladiator, and sothe ritual of smelling the dirt was partly because it reminded Maximus of his home, as well as preparing him for battle. Moreover, the dirt ritual remindedMaximus of the death of his family, which motivated him to fight to gain revenge on Commodus, who was responsible for their deaths. Lucius would have picked up on the ritual as he was present for the gladiator fights and Maximus’ death.
When Lucius copies Maximus’ dirt ritual, it provides a nice tribute to his friend inGladiator, especially as Lucius’ uncle is the one who killed him.
The ritual then becomes an act of respect by Lucius inGladiator IIbecause the character has now grown up and become a gladiator himself, fighting for a similar cause to Maximus.Gladiator IIfollows Lucius’ journey as his peaceful life with his family is abruptly ended when the Roman Empire invades his home andPedro Pascal’s General Acaciusenslaves him as a gladiator.Lucius’ vendetta against Acacius mirrors Maximus and Commodus. Therefore, when Lucius copies Maximus’ dirt ritual, it provides a nice tribute to his mentor inGladiator, especially as Lucius’ uncle is the one who killed him.
Pedro Pascal’s General Acacius was also trained by Maximus off-screen inGladiator, providing a further connection between the two films.
Lucius Copying Maximus' Dirt Ritual Proves How Similar Both Characters Are
The Gladiator Films Have The Same Premise
Lucius copying the dirt ritual proves how similarPaul Mescal’s Lucius and Russell Crowe’s Maximusare.Both characters start the film in a remote setting with their families until the Roman Empire recruits them as gladiator slaves. Despite Lucius’ previous position as a member of the ruling family,Gladiator IIpresents a humbler version of the character, and Lucius’ life has obviously been impacted by Maximus, as his story follows a similar path. The similarities in the story almost presentGladiator IIas a remake instead of sequel, therefore, Lucius may also meet a similar fate to Maximus by the sequel’s end.
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.
