Lucius in the film Gladiator is introduced as the young son of Empress Lucilla, played by Spencer Treat Clark in the original 2000 movie. He is the nephew of Emperor Commodus and is portrayed as an innocent child who idolizes the gladiator Maximus and is the heir to the throne, named after his supposed father, Lucius Verus, who is deceased

. In the first Gladiator film, Lucius has a minor but significant role: he interacts with Maximus, expresses admiration for him, and playfully pretends to be "Maximus, the savior of Rome," which alerts Commodus to a coup plot. By the end of the film, Maximus assures Lucilla that Lucius is safe before dying

. However, the sequel Gladiator II (2024) reveals a major development about Lucius' parentage. It confirms that Lucius is actually the biological son of Maximus, not Lucius Verus as originally believed. This revelation redefines Lucius' character as the heir of Maximus, who grows up away from Rome, eventually becoming a gladiator himself and seeking to reclaim his rightful place and avenge his family

. To summarize:

• In Gladiator (2000), Lucius is the young son of Lucilla and the supposed son of Lucius Verus, a minor but symbolically important character

• In Gladiator II (2024), Lucius is revealed to be Maximus' biological son, making him a central character continuing Maximus' legacy

Thus, Lucius evolves from a child symbolizing hope in the first film to a vengeful heir and gladiator in the sequel, deeply connected to Maximus' story.