Do you need to watch ‘Gladiator’ before seeing the sequel? What to remember

It’s been nearly 25 years, but the Oscar-winning “Gladiator” is back! Or, at least, a sequel is!

True, “Gladiator” star Russell Crowe can’t return as Maximus (for obvious reasons), but “Gladiator II” is packed full of nostalgia, familiar characters and callbacks to the 2000 film.

It’s also stuffed with much of the spectacle that made the first film such a success: brutal fights with animals and humans in the Coliseum, political intrigue, class warfare and a hero who fights with determined purpose.

So what do we need to know about this sword-and-sandals epic before it opens wide on Nov. 22? Here’s what to know.

Note: Light spoilers are included regarding both films.

Do you need to watch ‘Gladiator’ to follow along with ‘Gladiator II’?

Not necessarily, but it helps. The key fact of the film: That Maximus had a son who ends up in the arena, and leading a revolt is already part of the early trailers.

But it’s not critical, because the film makes liberal use of flashbacks to the previous film to help fill in the blanks.

Paul Mescal as Lucius in “Gladiator II.”Aidan Monaghan / Paramount Pictures

What is Lucius’ connection to the first ‘Gladiator’?

In “Gladiator,” Lucius is an incidental character.

Played by Spencer Treat Clark, the boy is the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), and it’s stated that his father is Lucilla’s late husband, Lucius Verus (Lucius’ namesake).

Lucilla, by the way, is the sister of the leader in the first film, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix).

But we also learn in that film that Lucilla had an on-again, off-again relationship with Maximus, so it’s not a huge surprise to discover that the script for “II” has retconned Lucius (Paul Mescal) into being a more significant player: that is, Maximus’ son.

For his safety, the boy Lucius is shown to being spirited away and raised elsewhere — when he finally meets Lucilla in “II,” he claims to barely remember her.

Who from the original ‘Gladiator’ appears?

Aside from the actors in the flashbacks, there are two key performers who show up in “II” — Nielsen, who has remarried the man Lucius blames for murdering his family, Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) — and Derek Jacobi, who plays Senator Graccus. In “Gladiator,” he was part of the plot with Maximus and Lucilla to overthrow Commodus.

Gladiator, Connie Nielsen — Connie Nielson in “Gladiator” (L) and “Gladiator II” (R). Paramount Pictures, Alamy

And technically, Ridley Scott is also a return from the original “Gladiator” — as the director of both films. He was nominated for best director in 2001, so maybe he’s hoping to win that Oscar this time around.

How does Maximus play a part in the new film?

In a way, he’s everywhere. Adult Lucius doesn’t know he’s Maximus’ son, and he’s worshiped the warrior all these years.

There are several callbacks that suggest their connection before it’s stated explicitly: The image of Maximus running his hand through wheat field grasses shows up early on, and when Lucius is in the arena he sticks his sword in the ground, leans down and runs sand through his hands — just like his father did.

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in Gladiator II from Paramount Pictures. Paramount Pictures

Then, during “Gladiator,” Maximus has a maxim he loves to share: “What we do in life echoes in eternity.” The aphorism makes an appearance in “II” to lend it depth and scope.

But the biggest contribution Maximus makes to the film (Lucius aside) comes when his son visits a tomb beneath the arena and is given his father’s armor and sword for a big challenge.

Who’s been maintaining that all these years? How does it look so shiny and spiffy? Why does it naturally fit Lucius perfectly? These things can all be answered by whispering the name of a distant, future land far from Rome … Hollywood.