# The LCU Was Almost Built on Two Timelines — Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Original Plan for Kaithi and Vikram Revealed

URL: https://technosports.co.in/the-lcu-was-almost-built-on-two-timelines-lokesh-kanagarajs/  
Published: 2026-04-29  
Updated: 2026-04-29  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

The **Lokesh Cinematic Universe (LCU)** is one of Tamil cinema’s most ambitious creative experiments — but it almost looked very different. In a fascinating new revelation, Lokesh Kanagaraj’s co-writer and director **Rathna Kumar** has disclosed that the LCU was originally conceived around **two separate timelines**, built to collide through a single common antagonist. And that antagonist? Suriya’s iconic character, **Rolex**.

## LCU — What We Know So Far

| LCU Film | Star | Year |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kaithi | Karthi | 2019 |
| Vikram | Kamal Haasan | 2022 |
| Leo | Thalapathy Vijay | 2023 |
| Benz (Upcoming) | Raghava Lawrence | TBA |
| Kaithi 2 (Upcoming) | Karthi | TBA |

## The Original Two-Timeline Plan

Speaking with Little Talks, Rathna Kumar revealed that the initial concept for the LCU was designed to run on two parallel timelines — the **Kaithi timeline** and the **Vikram timeline** — which would eventually converge through a **common antagonist: Rolex**. The character of Rolex, played by Suriya in Vikram (2022), was intended to be the anchor that tied both worlds together from the very beginning.

![LCU](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/lcuuu.avif)

This is a striking piece of behind-the-scenes history. Rather than the universe growing organically, the vision was to engineer a collision point from the outset — with Rolex as the linchpin of the entire narrative architecture.

## How Vikram Actually Came Together?

Rathna Kumar also shed light on how Vikram took its final form. According to him, Lokesh Kanagaraj initially narrated a completely different story to Kamal Haasan. It was Kamal Haasan himself who suggested the concept of a Vikram prequel and sequel. Lokesh was drawn to the idea and asked for more time to develop it into a full-fledged script — and through that creative process, the version of Vikram audiences eventually saw was born.

It’s a reminder that some of cinema’s best-loved stories arrive through collaboration and a willingness to pivot from the original plan.

For more deep-dives into South Indian cinema news and LCU updates, [visit TechnoSports](https://technosports.co.in).

## What’s Next for the LCU?

The universe is far from done. Lokesh has publicly expressed intent to develop **Vikram 2, Leo 2**, and a **standalone Rolex spin-off** featuring Suriya. Kaithi 2 is also reportedly in the pipeline, with a glimpse titled *Dilli* already reportedly censored.

On the personal front, Lokesh is set to make his **acting debut** in director Arun Matheswaran’s upcoming film *DC*, described as an action-driven contemporary take on Devdas — with the shoot now wrapped. He is also gearing up to direct **AA23**, starring **Allu Arjun**, marking his debut in Telugu cinema.

Much like [shared cinematic universes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shared_universe) in Hollywood, the LCU has proven that interconnected storytelling can thrive in Indian cinema too — perhaps even more organically, given the character-first approach Lokesh and his team have taken.

Stay updated on all LCU films and South Indian cinema news at [TechnoSports](https://technosports.co.in).

## FAQs

### **Q: What is the LCU (Lokesh Cinematic Universe)?**

 The LCU is a series of interconnected Tamil films directed or co-created by Lokesh Kanagaraj, currently comprising Kaithi (2019), Vikram (2022), and Leo (2023), with several sequels and spin-offs in development.

### **Q: What was Lokesh Kanagaraj’s original plan for the LCU?**

  
According to co-writer Rathna Kumar, the LCU was initially planned around two timelines — the Kaithi and Vikram timelines — converging through Suriya’s character Rolex as the common antagonist.