Paul Mescal plays the lead role of Lucius in Ridley Scott’s 2024 film Gladiator II.
Mescal portrays the adult Lucius Verus Aurelius, a character first introduced as a boy in the 2000 film. In Gladiator II, Lucius lives under the name Hanno in Numidia before Roman forces invade, kill his wife, and take him prisoner. He is sold into slavery and enters the gladiatorial arena, where he becomes entangled in a struggle over Rome’s future.
Lucius connects the sequel to the original film’s story. He is the son of Lucilla and is revealed to be the son of Maximus, Russell Crowe’s character from Gladiator. Connie Nielsen returns as Lucilla, while Mescal replaces Spencer Treat Clark, who played young Lucius in the first film.
Mescal was cast in January 2023 after Scott saw his work, including Normal People and his stage performance in A Streetcar Named Desire. To prepare, he trained in combat, horse riding, and gladiatorial movement and gained substantial muscle. Pedro Pascal is also prominent in the film, but he plays the Roman general Acacius, not Lucius.