WARNING: The following contains SPOILERS for Luca.
There are many unanswered questions left by Luca that a sequel could explore. Luca was released on Disney+ on June 13, 2021. The Pixar movie follows the burgeoning friendship of sea monsters Luca Paguro and Alberto Scorfano. After discovering that he transforms into a human when dry, Luca joins his new companion Alberto for a summer of exploration in the nearby town of Portorosso. Although the movie is simple and ends on a happy note, it does introduce a number of plot holes and unexplored narrative avenues that a sequel could address.
In an interview with ET, director Enrico Casarosa indicated that the story was pitched with the thought that it could be a series. The movie is a charming family-friendly story and has been met with largely positive reviews. Still, the nature of the release means that a follow-up isn't guaranteed. The Pixar movie is the second to go directly to Disney+: like Luca, Soul (controversially) also debuted for free on the streaming platform.
The fact that Luca debuted for free, rather than as a premium title like Cruella or Raya and the Last Dragon, means that it's difficult to predict whether or not Luca will get a sequel. Still, if there is a Luca 2, there are a number of unanswered questions and plot holes that it can answer. From explaining what happened to Alberto's family to exploring Luca's life as a student in Genova, here are the biggest questions from Disney's Luca.
What Happened To Alberto's Father (& Why Did He Leave)?
When Luca first meets Alberto, the lad indicates that his father is away; however, in an emotional exchange part-way through the film, Alberto admits that his dad had abandoned him quite some time ago — and enough time had passed to indicate that this absentee parent would not be coming back. When Luca betrayed Alberto, it brought up the past trauma; the youngster felt that his friend would ultimately reject him as his own father had. In the end, Alberto gets a new father figure in Massimo Marcovaldo, the local fishmonger and Giulia Marcovaldo's dad. It's a sweet and fitting ending for the two characters — but the story never addresses what happened to Alberto's biological family or why they aren't around.
How Could Ercole Enter The Race Despite Being Too Old?
The slimy bully Ercole Visconti is easy to hate, but Luca leaves some major questions about this character – particularly, how did he continue to participate in the Portorosso Cup despite being too old? The character's motivation is pretty clear: he enjoys being the titleholder and the social clout that comes with it. Ercole also obviously appreciates the prize money, since he's shown to be materialistic. Still, if the townspeople don't like his antics (which they appear not to), why would they allow him to continue to participate in the race when he should be easy to disqualify? Furthermore, why would a young man want to pretend to be underage, rather than pursue more mature goals?
One potential answer that would explain both is if Ercole comes from a wealthy family. This would explain his materialistic nature and access to things like a fancy bike, his beloved (and delicate) wool sweater, and his Vespa. If Ercole's family had significant wealth, this would provide the young man with the social power to do whatever he wants in the small Italian seaside town of Portorosso — including breaking the rules to enter the Portorosso Cup. It would also explain his disinterest in pursuing a job of his own.
What Happened To Luca's Uncle Ugo?
One of the most memorable (and disturbing) characters in Luca was easily the translucent sea monster Uncle Ugo (played by Sacha Baron Cohen) — but what happened to him? Ugo is a different version of sea monster, despite (presumably) being related to Luca by blood. His unpleasant appearance and mannerisms are largely played for laughs. After his introductory scene, in which Luca was told he would be living in the deep waters with his uncle, Ugo isn't seen again until a post-credits scene (one that was included because Sacha Baron Cohen improvised for Luca so much). Did Ugo just slink away back to the deep ocean after Luca ran away?
Is Uncle Ugo A Different Kind Of Sea Monster?
In addition to acting differently than the other sea monsters in Luca, Sacha Baron Cohen's Uncle Ugo also looks significantly different from the others shown in the Pixar movie. Not only is Ugo translucent, but his eyes are distinct and he has an illicium: a modified dorsal fin, typically associated with anglerfish, that glows in order to attract prey in the pitch-black deep ocean waters. This raises the question: is Ugo a different kind of sea monster? If so, how many different kinds are there (and how is he related to Luca)? Or, is it simply that sea monsters have the ability to physically adapt to their surroundings?
How Many Sea Monsters Are Hiding As Humans?
In its climax, Luca reveals that there are other sea monsters pretending to be humans in Portorosso (possibly the friends that Grandma Paguro plays cards with). This means that there are at least two more sea monsters in the town alone, not to mention Alberto's mysterious father. So how many sea monsters are living on land in secret? And for how long have they been doing so? In Luca's end credits, images reveal several story elements that continue where the movie leaves off, including Luca revealing himself as a sea monster to Giulia's mother, and Luca's teacher and classmates in Genova. This suggests that he is not keeping his true identity secret — and perhaps will discover others of his kind in the process.
Do Sea Monsters Eat The Goatfish?
Luca and Alberto eat fish when they have dinner at Giulia's house, which begs the question: do sea monsters eat fish? Presumably, that's why the Paguro family keeps goatfish — yet, the family is seen eating what appears to be plants. The boys' pleasantly surprised reaction to Massimo's cooking hints that they had never had fish before; however, it's just as plausible that they had — just not Massimo's delicious (cooked) fish in fresh pasta.
Why Didn't Alberto Go To School?
Luca ends with Luca heading to Genoa with Giulia to go to school while Alberto stayed behind — but why? The friendship between the two boys is at the heart of the movie (hence why Luca can be read as an LGBTQ+ story), and while the tearful goodbye is an emotionally meaningful moment, it does raise questions about why only Luca was permitted to go. The movie never explicitly states why Alberto had to stay behind, but the reason is hinted at in the dialogue. Simply put, Alberto isn't interested in school — he's more of a Huckleberry Finn type than Luca, who is naturally drawn to learning. Throughout the film, Alberto grew closer to Massimo, helping him fish and maintain his equipment. Luca's happy ending involves him pursuing his own passion, while Alberto's involves his new path as an apprentice to Massimo. If this is the case, it's a storyline Luca 2 could follow.
What Happens To Luca At School?
Since Luca ends with the titular character riding the train to Genova, audiences are left wondering what happened to the young sea monster at school. Given all the difficulty he faced in the small city of Portorosso, it stands to reason that he'd face even more adversity in the large city; however, Luca's end credits offer glimpses of his life as a schoolboy, and it seems that he is accepted there. The images show Luca posing for a painting in his sea monster form, and even showing his teacher and classmates how he can transform. It's a positive message about being true to one's self and suggests that Luca didn't hide his true identity from his new friends.