Gladiator 2 Character Guide: Paul Mescal Leads An All-Star Cast

Decades after Russell Crowe’s Maximus screamed “Are you not entertained?” Ridley Scott and the cast of Gladiator 2 are back for a follow-up to the 2000 historical epic with both new and returning characters. A direct sequel set after the events of the Best Picture-winning original, Gladiator 2 was a long-gestating project until a cast finally started to assemble in 2023. As Crowe revealed on the Fitzy & Wippa podcast, Maximus will not return in Gladiator 2 and the plot instead focuses on Lucius, the young prince from the first movie. With Lucius now being at the forefront, Gladiator 2 will highlight his journey of becoming emperor in ancient Rome.