Is Russell Crowe in Gladiator 2? Maximus’ role in long-awaited sequel explained

A highly-anticipated sequel to 1 of the astir iconic blockbusters of each clip is yet hitting the large surface this week, but volition the archetypal film’s prima Russell Crowe marque an appearance?

Warning - this nonfiction contains spoilers for Gladiator II.

Gladiator II follows the epic communicative of Maximus Decimus Meridius’ (played by Russell Crowe) lad Lucius (Paul Mescal) from erstwhile heir to the Roman Empire to an enslaved warrior with a thirst for vengeance.

Born to Maximus and Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), Lucius was sent distant aft the events of the archetypal 2000 movie and resides with his woman successful Numidia, a Roman state successful North Africa.

When he’s taken captive by the Roman army, helium forms a shaky confederation with power-hungry gladiator maestro Macrinus (Denzel Washington) to hatch a crippled to instrumentality down Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal), a conflicted wide nether the bid of co-emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger).

However, Lucius volition person to past the perils of the Colosseum earlier reuniting with his parent and discovering his existent destiny.

As the archetypal Gladiator is 1 of the astir iconic films ever made, movie fans volition beryllium wondering if A-list prima Crowe volition beryllium making an quality arsenic Maximus.

Although he’s famously slain astatine the extremity of the archetypal film, determination was a accidental Maximus could instrumentality successful a imaginativeness of the afterlife oregon successful caller footage filmed for flashbacks, with Crowe de-aged with peculiar effects.

For those who don’t privation spoilers, look distant - no, Crowe didn’t travel backmost to sprout caller footage, though Maximus appears successful scenes from the archetypal Gladiator astatine respective points successful the caller sequel.

His sanction is evoked passim erstwhile Lucius reconnects with Lucilla, and helium adjacent wears his father’s signature armour during his last battle.

Moreover, Maximus each but appears successful the last changeable of the sequel aft Lucius has defeated Macrinus and calls upon his begetter to talk to him from beyond the grave.

While there’s not precisely a spiritual reunion betwixt the begetter and son, Gladiator II ends with a changeable of what could beryllium Maximus’ manus brushing done a tract of wheat, a recognisable representation utilized passim the archetypal movie to symbolise the afterlife.

As for wherefore Crowe himself doesn’t appear, the New Zealand-born prima precocious admitted helium felt “slightly uncomfortable” astir the sequel considering his protective feelings implicit the archetypal and his character.

"I’m somewhat uncomfortable, the information that they’re making different one, you know?” helium shared connected the Kyle Meredith With… podcast.

“Because of course, I’m dead, and I person nary accidental successful what gets done.

"A mates of things that I’ve heard, I’m like, ‘No, no, no. That’s not successful the motivation travel of that peculiar character’,” helium added. “But you know, I can’t accidental anything. That’s not my place.”

The movie is expected to beryllium a smash deed aft the occurrence of the archetypal film, but volition Gladiator II unrecorded up to the hype?

Gladiator II is successful cinemas now.