One of the underlying themes of Gladiator 2 is the parentage of Paul Mescal's Lucius, as he is revealed to be the son of Russell Crowe's Maximus from the first film.
After centering on Crowe's Roman hero in Ridley Scott's original Gladiator, Gladiator 2 sees Mescal's Lucius heading out on a quest for revenge following the Roman invasion of his village and the death of his wife.
Russell Crowe and Maximus are noticeably absent from the 2024 sequel; however, his presence looms large, with the movie's big twist coming when Lucius learns he may be the son of Crowe's former general-turned-gladiator.
Gladiator 2's Lucius/Maximus Connection Explained
Fans were shocked to learn that Paul Mescal's Gladiator 2 protagonist, Lucius, is Maximus' son from the first film (played by Russell Crowe).
Starting Ridley Scott's Roman sequel, Mescal's hero goes by the name Hanno, believing he is a humble Numidian outside the rule of the Roman Empire.
That all changes as Lucius/Hanno is swept up in Roman reign after his city is pillaged by a Roman general known as Acacius and taken as a slave.
Lucius is then carted from his home in Numidia to the bustling streets of Rome, where he begins to uncover that he may not have been told everything there is to know about his past.
It turns out that he is the son of former Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius and a descendant of the great royal Aurelius family tree.
The reveal of his parentage might confuse some, as Maximus was not seen taking a wife by the end of the first Gladiator movie. And seeing as he died during that film's climactic battle, he could not have fathered any children after the credits rolled.
Well, a significant part of the original Gladiator is the potential romantic connection between Maximus and the Emperor's daughter, Lucilla.
It would seem that Lucius is the result of this relationship between the two. Lucilla had been pregnant before Maximus ultimately died upon slaying the villainous Commodus in the first movie.
While Gladiator never confirms the connection between Maximus and Lucilla was sensual in any way, the sequel embraces it as fact, showing that the pair spawned at least one son in their time as lovers.
However, his mother put him into hiding at a young age and sent him to live in the far reaches of the Roman Empire. She wanted to cover up his existence and ensure no potential rivals of his father could kill him in an attempt to make a play for the throne (as he was technically the only male heir left after Commodus' and Maximus' deaths).
Over the years in Numidia, Lucius (or Hanno) would develop a deep resentment for his mother and Rome, harboring a feeling of abandonment.
That changes by the film's end, though, as he embraces his parentage, adorning his father's armor and fighting for Rome just like his father did all those years ago.
Gladiator 2 is playing in theaters worldwide (read The Direct's review of the film here).
