Lucius being the son of Maximus inGladiator 2may have come as a shock to some, butthe original movie laid the foundation 24 years ago. Paul Mescal leadsGladiator 2’scastas Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) from the first movie. Audiences catch up with Lucius fifteen years after the death of Maximus (Russell Crowe) in the Colosseum, and a flashback scene shows that he was forced to flee the city, as being the heir to the throne would make him a target. Now, he’s living in Numidia with a wife, tending to a farm.
Unfortunately for Lucius, Rome won’t leave him be, as a naval force led by General Acacius (Pedro Pascal) invades Numidia, killing his wife and taking him captive. As a gladiator, Lucius makes his way back to Rome, and Lucilla soon discovers that her long-lost son is alive. While she understands that he’s furious with her for sending him away, she tries to reason with him by telling him that Maximus was his real father. This guides Lucius on the right path, building towardGladiator 2’sclimactic ending.
Gladiator Never Revealed Maximus Was Lucius' Father
Gladiator Never Specifically Clarified This Detail
The originalGladiatorfilm notably never revealed that Maximus was Lucius' father. The two seem to share some connection, andLucius demonstrates great admiration for Maximus as a gladiator in the arena, but it’s not made explicit that they share any blood relation. This is a detail added to the new film, contributing toGladiator 2’snumerous referencesto the original and allowing for narrative parallels between father and son. It’s fun to see Lucius live up to the legacy his father left behind, and the twist contributes to the idea that his potential as a leader was always in him.
Maximus represents the idealistic Roman dream, and Lucius' arc in the film is about finding his way to live up to that standard.
Legacy is a crucial component ofGladiator 2, which differentiates the likes of Maximus and Marcus Aurelius from Romans like Commodus and the new twin emperors. Maximus represents the idealistic Roman dream, and Lucius' arc in the film is about finding his way to live up to that standard. Being Maximus and Lucilla’s son also makes him the grandson of Marcus Aurelius, so the bloodline is vital to his story, creating a destiny for him to fulfill.
Clues In Gladiator That Maximus Was Lucius' Father
Gladiatormay not have officially stated that Lucius was Maximus' son, but there are definitely hints. It’s clear that Maximus and Lucilla shared some sort of romantic past, which contributes to Commodus' jealousy of him. Maximus also develops a relationship with young Lucius, which doesn’t seem specifically fatherly but is still tender in an important way. Lastly,Maximus states, “Lucius is safe” to Lucilla as he’s dying, which seems pretty crucial in retrospect. He may not have saved his family, but some of his final thoughts were about saving Lucius.
Ridley Scott Has Long Planned To Reveal Maximus Is Lucius' Father
Ridley Scott Considered This Twist In The Early 2000s
Given that it’s been over two decades since the original movie,Gladiator 2underwent many potential story iterations before finally landing on the movie audiences have seen. There was aGladiator 2script written by Nick Cave, which would have involved Maximus being resurrected by the gods. In 2006, Ridley Scott discussed ideas that had circulated between him and Russell Crowe, dating back to 2003. At the time, he didn’t think the movie would ever get off the ground, but said this:“Therefore, it would be to the son that Maximus had probably left behind with his affair with Lucilla.”
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Gladiator 2 takes a number of elements directly from the original movie, from character archetypes, narrative arcs, and direct references.
The idea dating back so far is meaningful, as it shows that Lucius being Maximus' son was always something they had considered. The fact that the original movie alludes to Maximus and Lucilla having some past romance is important for a love triangle-like jealousy for Commodus, but the fact that it was a past event seems to suggest a more tumultuous history between them with potentially controversial secrets. In the original movie, it’s feasible that Maximus doesn’t even know that Lucius is his son.
How Maximus Being Lucius' Father Changes The Original Movie
Maximus' Goals Are Changed If He’s Trying To Save Lucius
If Maximus does know that Lucius is his son, then it changes the purpose of his arc in the original movie.Gladiatoris a story about Maximus discovering a new purpose in his life after his family is murdered: to rise through the ranks as a gladiator, attract the attention of the Roman public, and overthrow the emperor as revenge. Hispurpose is even framed by the quote, “A father to a murdered son.“The statement isn’t untrue either way, but it’s a bit less impactful if he’s also fighting to protect his other son, who would become emperor after Commodus dies.
Maximus and Lucilla’s first scene inGladiatoralso deserves some re-examination with the added context. Maximus suggests that he mourned the loss of her husband, the first Lucius Verus, and asks about her son. Lucilla claims her son is around 8, and he says the same about his. This would mean Lucilla conceived Lucius with Maximus in Rome, and then Maximus left shortly after to go to his wife and have his son with her.Something might have happened just after their affair that caused him to leave, or maybe he felt shameful for having the affair in the first place.
Maximus Being Lucius' Father Is More Important For Gladiator 2 Than Gladiator
Gladiator 2 Mirrors The Original Film With Lucius
Ultimately,GladiatorisGladiator. The original movie can still be whatever people want it to be, and the sequel shouldn’t ruin their enjoyment. There’s not enough information about Maximus and Lucilla to suggest that he even knew, so it shouldn’t suggest that his motivations for the first film are anything different than what they’ve always been. What matters is that Lucius is Maximus' son inGladiator 2, as itcreates an important narrative parallel that shows how meaningful Maximus' brief moment of fame was to the Roman people.
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Rather than Lucius just being another Roman, he has specific, meaningful shoes to fillfrom both his father’s and his mother’s side. He is the living embodiment of the dream of Rome that Marcus Aurelius had, and he has the strength of Maximus to see it through. Having such a strong link to the first film ultimately embellishesGladiator 2, and it allows Paul Mescal’s Lucius to properly carry on the torch after Russell Crowe established the franchise 24 years ago.
Gladiator II
Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
