Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Gladiator 2Gladiator 2 is one of the biggest films released in 2024, continuing the saga of Ridley Scott's 2000 historical epic, telling the story of Lucius Verus Aurelius fighting in Rome's gladiatorial arena. Gladiator 2 received solid reviews and is shaping up to be one of Ridley Scott's biggest hits, which is largely due to the film's characters, many of whom manage to maintain Gladiator 2 interesting even when it retreads the same ground as the first film.
Gladiator 2The big twist is that Lucius, who was only known as Hanno at the beginning of the film, was actually the son of Maximus Decimus Meridius, the protagonist of the original film. Gladiator. Lucius' parentage is a point of contention within the film itself, and the options presented by some of Gladiator 2the characters show a very different direction the film could have taken, which would have been much darker, but probably not as interesting or relevant to what the film was trying to say.
Gladiator 2 confirms there were rumors in Rome that Commodus was Lucius' real father
People thought your uncle was your real father
In Gladiator 2Macrinus by Denzel Washington reveals the fact that Rumors circulated around Rome that Lucius Verus was actually the son of Commodus, the former Roman emperor who served as the central antagonist of the first Gladiator. While this is obviously not true, the idea behind it makes some sense, as Commodus had a clear incestuous desire for his sister, Lucilla. Commodus was also very interested in Lucius during the events of the first Gladiatorputting him front and center in his plans when he was emperor.
Commodus being Lucius' father would have been a darker twist for Gladiator 2
This twist would have been darker, but not necessarily better
Although Commodus being Lucius' father made sense Gladiator 2It would have been a much darker story than the film ended up becoming. The first reason for this is, of course, that Lucius' mother Lucilla was Commodus's sister, and while this type of relationship was certainly not unheard of, it would have colored the film in a negative light. Ridley Scott's sequel probably wouldn't be able to achieve the same inspiring tone what Gladiator 2Lucius' ending was approved, as Lucius' true parentage became a big part of why he does what he does.
This alternative interpretation also probably wouldn't have been as interesting as what ended up happening in the film, even if there is something to that idea. If GladiatorEmperor Commodus was Lucius' father, so the story would probably end up being about Lucius needing to overcome his parentageinstead of hugging him like he did his real father, Maximus. So there would potentially be some mixed messages, as your mother and father would represent two completely different things, which would potentially make Gladiator 2 much more complicated when it comes to the film's themes.