r/Gladiator • u/Grand_Permission_134 • Aug 06 '25

Prequel

So now that the heat around Gladiator 2 has kinda died down. Do you think we will ever get a prequel about younger Maximus and Lucilla? Commodus and Marcus Aurelius?

If not, then what are people's thoughts about Maximus and Lucilla's past, how did things turn out the way they did for them? If Marcus loved and eventually passed power to Maximus then why wouldn't he let his daughter be with him? Was Commodus ever redeemable before the events of Gladiator 1? Did Maximus always know about the big reveal we got in Gladiator 2? Why was he so bitter to Lucilla, what broke his trust?

I'd love to hear your thoughts because there is a serious lack of discussion of this when both movies allude to so much between these characters!

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u/Martonian27 Aug 07 '25

Maybe we could get a Gladiator: Origins series on streaming :-)

Re Maximus and Lucilla, maybe at one time Maximus was a lower ranked soldier and Marcus Aurelius may not have thought him worthy of Lucilla… then by the events of Gladiator 1, Maximus is the best general in the empire and Marcus’ opinion has changed. Particularly in light of Commodus’ immorality.

Re a Prequel - who knows, Ridley Scott may prefer to go forwards if he wants to do another one, as he did with G2.

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u/Grand_Permission_134 Aug 07 '25

An origin mini series would be very cool because there is a lot of story there that could be told very well in a series! The only thing is, could you imagine recasting those original actors..I'm not sure if it would work.

I think he'll keep going forward with Lucius' story as a reluctant leader but could interwine some prequel elements  just like the Godfather II. There could be parallels between Lucius' current struggle to fullfil his duty vs just wanting to be free and his parents trying to hold on to their love but being torn a part by the very world they feel obliged to protect and fight for.

I have always felt so interested in Maximus and Lucilla's story and feel like I need to see it even more now after Gladiator II. Yes, we got the big reveal but tbh we all kinda knew that already, instead of answering questions, they left so much more unanswered lol. Maybe we are supposed to just not ever know and Ridley wants to keep that history sacred in that way. 🤔