Do you have to watch Gladiator to understand the sequel?

Russell Crow plays Lucius in Gladiator I, Paul Mescal plays Lucius in Gladiator II. Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures; Cover images

More than two decades later Gladiator hits theaters, the sequel makes its long-awaited debut.

Ridley Scott‘s 2000 historical epic follows the Roman general Maximus (Russel Crowe) who is sold into slavery as a gladiator. The sequel – which hits theaters on Friday, November 22 – focuses on Lucius (Paul Mescal), the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and cousin of Commodus (played by Joaquin Phoenix in the original film).

“I saw the film for the first time when I was about thirteen with my father,” Mescal (28) said. Entertainment weekly earlier this month, while costar Pedro Pascal said he saw the original in theaters not once – but twice – because of “how emotional the movie was.”

“Obviously it’s incredibly visceral and epic and the kind of film you rarely get to see these days,” Pascal told the outlet. “It had an emotional impact. I remember being sadistically drawn to a second time because it was really comforting.”

So, do you have to watch the first film to understand Scott’s? Gladiator II? Scroll down to see the connections between the films below:

What happened in Gladiator?

Cover images

Gladiator revolves around Maximus (remember, that’s Crowe) who forms a bond with Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). Marcus Aurelius informs Maximus of his plans to crown him protector of Rome once he dies. Hearing of the news, Commodus (Phoenix) kills his own father and orders his army to kill Maximus and his family. While Maximus tries to save his loved ones, it is too late and his wife and son are dead.

Maximus is forced to become a gladiator and is taken to Rome to fight for Commodus. In the end, Commodus and Maximus fight a duel and they both die – spoiler alert.

What is the plot of Gladiator II?

The sequel takes place decades after the events Gladiator. While Lucius (that is Mescal) was a child, Lucilla sent him to a region called Numidia in an attempt to keep him away from Roman society. If Gladiator II unfolds, Lucius’ life is disrupted when Roman forces led by General Marcus Acacius (Pascal) Invade Numidia and hold him captive.

Although Phoenix and Crowe will not appear Gladiator II, Dirk Jacobi and Nielsen will reprise their roles as Gracchus (he is a Roman senator) and Lucilla, respectively. The new movie will do that too with new faces including Mescal, Pascal and Denzel Washington.

How do Gladiator and Gladiator II cross over?

Cuba Scott/Paramount Photos

Okay, come along Us. There are several important connections to the original Gladiator II. First of all, the main character (again, that’s Mescal) is the son of a noblewoman in Gladiator. Another thread of it Gladiator is that Marcus Acadius (Pascal!) would have been trained as a non-commissioned officer under Maximus (again, that’s Crowe).

“This film has an identity shaped by its legacy. It would make no sense not to do that,” Pascal said Vanity fair in July he called his character a fighter who “has learned from the best, so of course this code of honor is ingrained in his training and in his existence. But at the end of the day, he’s a different person. And that can’t change who he is. Maximus is Maximus, and that cannot be replicated. That makes Acacius capable of different things.”

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Another connecting aspect between the films is returning director Scott – who said Gladiator II is “as good as the first.” He told it People in August: “I didn’t say better. It’s just as good.”

So, do you have to see Gladiator to see Gladiator II?

The bottom line is that it’s not absolutely necessary to watch Gladiator in preparation for the sequel, the stories certainly intersect – and watching the first film will help you settle into a highly layered world of characters. In short, you’ll probably get more out of it Gladiator II if you stream the 2000 film first. And who wouldn’t want to take a trip down memory lane and see Crowe and Phoenix in the original? Anyway, to quote the first half Gladiator movie, get ready to be entertained.

Gladiator II will be in cinemas from Friday 22 November.