How is Lucius the son of Maximus in ‘Gladiator 2’?

nme.com:

Paul Mescal plays the lead role of Lucius in Gladiator 2, but his character’s origins have been redefined from the original film.Set over two decades after the events of the 2000 original, Gladiator 2 follows Lucius – the son of Lucilla and Maximus – who, after being forced into slavery, follows his father’s path by becoming a gladiator.Other members of the cast include Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington.Lucius (Spencer Treat Clark) has a small role in the original film.

He is the young son of Lucille (Connie Nielson), who is the sister of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Lucius idolises Maximus (Russell Crowe) for his combat victories, much to the annoyance of his uncle.The identity of Lucius’ father is said to be the late Lucius Verus, who he is named after.

While the original film doesn’t confirm anything to go against this, it strongly implies that Lucius’ actual father could be Maximus, as he was a former lover of his mother Lucille.In Gladiator 2, it’s confirmed Lucius is actually the son of Maximus.

This was revealed in the film’s trailer, where his mother Lucille states that she “sees him in you”.Lucille is introduced in the original film as a former lover of Maximus, at a time when her son is eight years-old.