More often than not, sequels take just a few years to follow after their predecessors, but it’s also become increasingly common for sequels to be made decades later. Gladiator 2 falls into the latter category, with the original Ridley Scott-led movie being released in 2000 and ending with Maximus Decimus Meridius. So naturally Russell Crowe won’t be appearing in this follow-up tale, but it’s been revealed that a key character will be back, and the production is also lining up a Stranger Things star.
First up, Connie Nielsen has closed her deal to reprise Lucilla in Gladiator 2. In the original movie, along with being Maximus’ lover and sister of Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus, she was also the mother of Lucius Verus, who at the time was played by Spencer Treat Clark. With Lucius now being played by Paul Mescal and serving the sequel’s main protagonist, it makes sense that Nielsen is being brought back. In recent years, Nielsen as played Queen Hippolyta in various DC movies and starred opposite Bob Odenkirk in Nobody, and her other upcoming movies include Role Play and Caste.
