Gladiator II was a great film, but it would have been significantly better if it hadn’t tried to connect to Ridley Scott’s original. Long celebrated as one of film’s most powerful narratives, the original Gladiator is remembered for Russell Crowe’s definitive, Oscar-winning portrayal of Maxiumus Decimus Meridius. With his character’s fate in the first film preventing his return, Gladiator II is instead led by Paul Mescal as Lucius, Maximus’ son.

As well as returning characters, Gladiator II introduces new characters which enrich its story. Following up on the immense success of Gladiator was always going to be a challenge, especially since it’s become renowned over the years as one of cinema’s best stories. However, early critical responses to Gladiator II were overwhelmingly positive, indicating that Ridley Scott mostly managed to revive the spirit of the first movie. Despite this, there’s a strong argument that the film should have been an original story. Its connections to Maximus disrupt much of the narrative, serving as evidence that Gladiator II would’ve been better as a standalone story.

Gladiator II Should’ve Been Its Own Original Story

Gladiator II Felt Uneven Due To Its Ties To Ridley Scott’s Original Film

Even though I really enjoyed Gladiator II, its ties to the original film made the sequel feel a bit disjointed. The main reason for this is Lucius’ lineage, and the story would have been far stronger if he hadn’t been related to Gladiator‘s Maximus Decimus Meridius. Arguably, Gladiator II could have delivered a much more powerful message if Lucius had simply been an admirer of Russell Crowe’s Gladiator. In the first film, we see just how much the young boy looked up to Maximus. His hero’s brutal murder by the emperor would have profoundly impacted him at such a young age.

Needless to say, it’s entirely understandable that Lucius would hold onto the memory of Maximus, and the second film could still have featured the main theme of “what we do in life echoes in eternity.” Instead of Lucius focusing on his parentage, Gladiator II could have had the lead as a more fully realized Roman character driven by certain injustices, with Maximus as his main inspiration. Gladiator II‘s numerous characters, like Pedro Pascal’s Acacius, and Denzel Washington’s Macrinus, were so well-developed too, that the film didn’t really need to rely on connections to the first movie. Their stories were compelling enough to make Gladiator II a standalone story.

The Connections To Gladiator Felt Forced At Times

The Connections To Maximus In Gladiator II Ultimately Weakened The Film

Gladiator II felt incohesive because it frequently referenced Lucius’ relationship with Maximus and included memorabilia from the first movie, yet it didn’t really delve into what Maximus meant to his son or how he might guide him on his journey. The use of Maximus in Gladiator II comes across as rather arbitrary and done merely for the sake of nostalgia.

We often see Maximus’ armor or hear his memorable quotes, but the film doesn’t explore their deeper meaning beyond this. For me, the lead character’s motivations are a significant weakness in Gladiator II, as it feels like his heritage alone is artificially propping up his entire storyline. Ultimately, Lucius’ story didn’t really need Maximus, and could have been more emotionally compelling if it leaned more on the presence of Lucilla and the characters that Gladiator II had brought into his life, as opposed to focusing on a ghost from the past, one that hasn’t been on the big screen in 25 years.

What’s more, the Gladiator II trailers had already revealed Lucius as Maximus’ son before the film’s debut, and numerous interviews with the cast saw them address the character’s connection. So, the film’s delayed and ultimately pointless reveal felt like a wasted plot twist, especially since the audience already knew. The film felt quite jarring, and it was far easier to root for Acacius, whose motivations were gradually revealed and proved much more engaging. Despite Lucius’ frequent speeches and seemingly inspiring moments in Gladiator II, they ultimately feel unconvincing, and his credibility as a leader isn’t established.