Gladiator II
Lucius being the son of Maximus inGladiator 2may have come as a shock to some , butthe original movie laid the foundation 24 class ago . Paul Mescal leadsGladiator 2’scastas Lucius , the son of Lucilla ( Connie Nielsen ) from the first movie . audience enchant 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 inheritor to the throne would make him a butt . Now , he ’s live in Numidia with a married woman , tending to a farm .
Unfortunately for Lucius , Rome wo n’t go forth him be , as a naval force take by General Acacius ( Pedro Pascal ) invades Numidia , killing his married woman and occupy him wrapped . As a gladiator , Lucius makes his room back to Rome , and Lucilla presently notice that her long - lost Logos is animated . While she understands that he ’s furious with her for sending him by , she examine to argue with him by telling him that Maximus was his tangible father . This guides Lucius on the veracious 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 deal some connexion , andLucius demonstrate great wonder for Maximus as a gladiator in the arena , but it ’s not made explicit that they share any blood relation . This is a item add to the Modern film , contributing toGladiator 2’snumerous referencesto the original and allowing for narration parallels between father and Logos . It ’s fun to see Lucius exist up to the legacy his father left behind , and the eddy contributes to the mind that his potential as a loss leader was always in him .
Maximus symbolize the idealistic romish dream , and Lucius ' arc in the pic is about finding his way to live up to that standard .
Legacy is a crucial factor ofGladiator 2 , which specialize the likes of Maximus and Marcus Aurelius from Romans like Commodus and the new twin emperors . Maximus represents the idealistic R.C. dream , and Lucius ' arc in the plastic film is about finding his way to live up to that criterion . Being Maximus and Lucilla ’s boy also build him the grandson of Marcus Aurelius , so the blood line is critical to his story , make a destiny for him to fulfil .
Clues In Gladiator That Maximus Was Lucius' Father
Maximus & Lucilla Had A Spicy Romantic History
Gladiatormay not have officially state that Lucius was Maximus ' Word , but there are definitely hint . It ’s clear that Maximus and Lucilla share some variety of amorous past , which contributes to Commodus ' green-eyed monster of him . Maximus also grow a human relationship with untried Lucius , which does n’t seem specifically fatherly but is still tender in an important way . Lastly , Maximus tell , " Lucius is safe " to Lucilla as he ’s pall , which seems pretty of the essence in retrospect . He may not have saved his family , but some of his final thought were about saving Lucius .
Ridley Scott Has Long Planned To Reveal Maximus Is Lucius' Father
Ridley Scott Considered This Twist In The Early 2000s
give that it ’s been over two decade since the original movie , Gladiator 2underwent many possible story iteration before finally land on the movie audiences have seen . There was aGladiator 2script write by Nick Cave , which would have involve Maximus being rise by the gods . In 2006 , Ridley Scott hash out idea that had spread between him and Russell Crowe , date stamp back to 2003 . At the clock time , he did n’t call back the movie would ever get off the reason , but sound out this:“Therefore , it would be to the Logos that Maximus had probably left behind with his affair with Lucilla . "
Gladiator 2 takes a number of elements direct from the original flick , from graphic symbol archetype , narrative arcs , and direct quotation .
The idea dating back so far is meaningful , as it show that Lucius being Maximus ' boy was always something they had considered . The fact that the original pic alludes to Maximus and Lucilla give birth some past love affair is of import for a love triangle - similar jealousy for Commodus , but the fact that it was a retiring event seems to suggest a more tumultuous account between them with potentially controversial arcanum . In the original movie , it ’s feasible that Maximus does n’t even do it that Lucius is his son .
Custom image by Ana Nieves
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 change the purpose of his discharge in the original movie . Gladiatoris a news report about Maximus discovering a unexampled function in his life after his fellowship is mutilate : to climb through the social status as a gladiator , appeal the attention of the Roman public , and overthrow the emperor as retaliation . Hispurpose is even framed by the quote , " A sire to a polish off son . “The statement is n’t untrue either direction , but it ’s a bit less impactful if he ’s also fighting to protect his other Word , who would become emperor after Commodus dies .
Maximus and Lucilla ’s first scene inGladiatoralso deserves some re - test with the added context . Maximus suggests that he mourn the loss of her husband , the first Lucius Verus , and enquire about her son . Lucilla claim her Word is around 8 , and he says the same about his . This would mean Lucilla conceive Lucius with Maximus in Rome , and then Maximus bequeath curtly after to go to his married woman and have his son with her . Something might have happen just after their occasion that caused him to leave , or maybe he felt shameful for feature 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 multitude want it to be , and the sequel should n’t break their enjoyment . There ’s not enough info about Maximus and Lucilla to suggest that he even have sex , so it should n’t indicate that his need for the first film are anything dissimilar than what they ’ve always been . What matters is that Lucius is Maximus ' Word inGladiator 2 , as itcreates an important story parallel that shows how meaningful Maximus ' brief moment of fame was to the romish people .
Both Wicked and Gladiator 2 have been vast succeeder both critically and commercially , but one project is clearly outshining the other .
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 ambition of Rome that Marcus Aurelius had , and he has the specialty of Maximus to see it through . Having such a strong inter-group communication to the first film ultimately embellishesGladiator 2 , and it let Paul Mescal ’s Lucius to properly carry on the torch after Russell Crowe established the franchise 24 years ago .
Custom Image by Lewis Glazebrook
Gladiator 2 is the follow - up to Ridley Scott ’s prize - winning film Gladiator from 2000 . Scott returns to organize the subsequence , with Paul Mescal star as Lucius , alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta . Gladiator 2 had been stuck in developing hell for long time before a script written by David Scarpa eventually move forward .
Custom Image by Lewis Glazebrook
