The sands of the Colosseum are stirring once more, but not all spectators are pleased with the spectacle to come. Following the official announcement that Paul Mescal will lead Gladiator 3 as an adult Lucius, a storm of fan discontent has erupted across the internet.
Director Ridley Scott, who is returning to helm the sequel, now faces a growing chorus of dissent from the franchise's dedicated fanbase. Their primary grievance? The decision to recast the role of Lucius, originally played by Spencer Treat Clark in the 2000 epic, and to seemingly ignore the narrative setup from the original film.
Are You Not Entertained? Fans Clearly Are Not
Social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), have become the digital battleground for disgruntled fans. Many argue that the logical choice for an adult Lucius was already established in the original film's ending, which featured Derek Jacobi as the older version of the character.
One fan passionately declared, "They had the perfect setup with Derek Jacobi... This is a huge mistake." Another echoed the sentiment, stating, "Spencer Treat Clark IS Lucius. He's an actor, he can age into the role. This recast makes zero sense."
The Ghost of Maximus Looms Large
The controversy deepens with the confirmed plot details. The sequel will follow Lucius, the nephew of the villainous Emperor Commodus, who has been living a quiet life as a farmer, haunted by the legacy of the gladiator Maximus who saved him. Fans of Russell Crowe's iconic character are struggling to reconcile this new direction with the original's powerful conclusion.
This has led to a wave of online petitions and calls for Ridley Scott to reconsider the casting, urging him to either bring back Spencer Treat Clark or honour the original cinematic cue with Derek Jacobi.
With production on the horizon, the big question remains: will Ridley Scott heed the calls of the mob, or will he let the decision stand, hoping to win over audiences upon the film's release? The power of the crowd, it seems, is being tested once again.
