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Gladiator 2's Latest Trailer Reveals A Secret About The New Hero

Lucius Verus' connection to the original Gladiator is finally confirmed in the latest trailer for Gladiator 2.

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Viewers of the original Gladiator may recall that there was some question about the paternity of Lucius Verus (Spencer Treat Clark), because it was made very clear that his mother, Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), was the former lover of the first film's hero, Maximus (Russell Crowe). But in the new trailer for Gladiator 2, the older Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal) finally learns the truth. He is the son of Maximus, and he's following in his father's footsteps.

In the years between the first movie and the sequel, Lucius turned his back on Rome and became a warrior in his own right. He also started his own family and lived peacefully until General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) conquered his lands and sent Lucius back to Rome as a slave. Like his father before him, Lucius will have to work his way up the gladiatorial ranks if he ever wants to get his revenge.

Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) are the co-Emperors of Rome, and Lucius isn't their only enemy. A former slave named Macrinus (Denzel Washington) has his own plans to take down the emperors, with the reluctant help of Lucius and his fellow gladiators. Their endgames may partially align, but Lucius makes it clear that he has no love for Macrinus either. The new poster for the film has also been released, and it hints that Lucius' final battle may be with Marcus in the arena.

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Gladiator director Ridley Scott returned to helm the sequel, which was written by David Scarpa. Gladiator 2 will hit theaters on November 22.

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davidb50100

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The story looks super corny. I'll watch for the spectacle. I'm wondering how much of the real gladiator uprising from history they will include in the movie. I'm assuming it won't be accurate because it didn't end well for the gladiators.

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uninspiredcup

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I really really wish some some of dictator would enforce a law that prevents the use of "trailer start now", "trailer begins now" etc... , on a trailer you clicked, with the title "trailer", in the trailer, of of the trailer you clicked.

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Ayato_Kamina_1

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So not only does this feel like a totally unnecessary sequel... they're giving us what sounds like a very regurgitated plot as well? I genuinely hope this absolutely bombs. Amount of money and effort being put into this could have been put into a new film set during the Roman period.

I'm willing to bet it'll have an almost like for like scene where protag does an announcement of his own name. Hollywood is just so lazy. Everyone of these sequels seems to have some throwback line to the original which feels totally out of place (looking at you Alien Romulus)

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Deckard26364

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@Ayato_Kamina_1: Go change your diaper. "I hope this absolutely bombs"

Why exactly? Nothing better to put your vitriol toward for no apparent reason except...just because? Nothing in the trailer you "watched" even matches your inane talking points.

Though you are right about Romulus being a color by numbers constant tip o' the hat front to back.

Or maybe back to front

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Ayato_Kamina_1

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@deckard26364: I don't have vitriol towards it, I am just jaded of films that have no business having sequels or constant reboots getting made (Looking at you The Crow). This film probably will be a commercial success, since they'll market the hell out of it. It's essentially taking the popularity of something earlier and just piggybacking on the back of its success. 9 times out of 10 it will cheapen the original.

You can't honestly tell me that Gladiator needed a sequel. It was a great film that was self-contained, ended in a really decent place, no loose ends, no after credit stinger showing an "oh wait, did Commodus survive" or anything like that. Certainly no one looking at the Lucius kid and thinking "wonder what he'll be up to in 20-25 years".

As for my second point about the throwback lines in every goddamn sequel of popular franchises... Predator reboot "You are one beautiful MF", "get to the chopper". Completely takes you out of the immersive experience to starkly remind you you are watching a film. Like as if without these lines referencing the earlier films you wouldn't know you were watching something in the same franchise.

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