Years after the events of Maximus, the film picks up with Lucius (Paul Mescal) learns he was raised to be the son of Maximus. Driven into the Colosseum after his homeland is annexed by co-emperors Caracalla and Geta, there to fight and seek vengeance for all she has lost. Lucius is led by Macrinus (Denzel Washington), a shrewd conspirator, on the trail to redeem Rome from within;.