Gladiator II It includes several characters based on real historical figures from the time of the Roman Empire, just as the first film did. Gladiator II It took the few story threads left by the first film and created another story out of them, this time focusing on Lucius Verus. Played by Paul Mescal in Gladiator IIIn the ensemble cast, Lucius practically repeats the story of Maximus from the first film; The Roman Empire harms him and he is thrown into a life of gladiatorial combat.
Obviously, Gladiator IIThe story establishes several parallels with that of its predecessor. Very similar to the first one, Gladiator II is steeped in true Roman history and, despite GladiatorDespite a certain lack of historical accuracy, there were several elements that aligned with the past. Many of the characters in the first film were real figures with fictional stories built around them, and the same can be said for Gladiator II. Ridley Scott’s Historical Accuracy Gladiator and its sequel aside, the people involved really existed, and here’s every single one of them. Gladiator II.
5 Pike Verus
Performed by Pablo Mescal
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The character of Lucius in Gladiator and Gladiator II is based on a real-life figure of the same name, although with some notable differences. In the first film, Lucius is introduced as the son of Lucilla and the former Roman emperor Lucius Verus I. The young Lucius will be next in line to the Roman throne before the actions of Commodus and Maximus alter the political landscape of the Empire. In Gladiator IILucius is shown expelled from Rome completely.
Paul Mescal’s earlier version of Lucius in Gladiator II He was shown living in the coastal city of Numidia on the African continent, far from Lucilla and the lineage of Rome. However, his city is attacked by the Roman army and he is taken prisoner before being forced to live as a gladiator. Overall, this story is very different from the real Lucius Verus II.
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Lucius Verus II actually died when he was very young. During an era of the Roman Empire called the Year of the Five Emperors after the death of Commodus, five men competed for the throne. Lucius Verus II was not alive at the time, as he would have had one of the strongest claims. Unfortunately, all of Lucilla’s children died at a young age, meaning that much of Lucius’ story in Gladiator II is full of fantasy built for another film in this franchise.
In Gladiator IIAnother major historical change is implemented in the character of Lucius. While there were hints of a romantic history between Russell Crowe’s Maximus and Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla in the first Gladiatorit was never revealed that the former was Lucius’s father. However, Gladiator II He retcons this, revealing that Maximus was Lucius’s father. Given that Lucius was shown to idolize Maximus in the first film, this certainly makes sense and provides a thematic through line between the protagonists of both installments.
4 Lucilla
Played by Connie Nielsen
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Just as Lucio Vero is, Gladiator IILucilla is also based on a real historical figure. In the film series, Lucilla is shown as the object of her brother Commodus’ desires. Lucilla plays an active role in Commodus’s court in Gladiator before doing the same in Gladiator II during the reign of the film’s co-emperors, Geta and Caracalla. In GladiatorLucilla tries to assassinate Commodus, one of the few elements that translate into real life, both to free her from Commodus’ oppression and to give her son a better life.
Commodus’s incestuous feelings towards Lucilla are not based on historical fact and were an invention of the film’s writers to make the former a more detestable villain.
Lucilla actually played a less active role in Commodus’s court. Prior to this, she was very close to her father, Marcus Aurelius, and her husband, Lucius Verus I. This made Lucilla an instrumental figure in the Roman Empire, even becoming empress during Lucius’s reign. As mentioned, Lucilla attempted to assassinate Commodus later in his life, but the attempt failed as it does in Gladiator. Lucilla was forced into exile afterwards, before being found and killed by Commodus’s men, which made a big difference in how her story continues in Gladiator II.
3 getas
Played by Joseph Quinn
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Gladiator IIThe main antagonists are the co-emperors of Rome, Geta and Caracalla. The first is played by Joseph Quinn in Gladiator II and is based on the real Emperor of the same name. Geta and Caracalla had an interesting relationship in royal history as servants of his father, Septimius Severus. After his death, the two were crowned co-rulers of Rome, which only worsened their rivalry and divided the Senate in two. Eventually, Geta was killed by Caracalla in a power move.
Gladiator IIThe Geta is similar in that he and his brother rule Rome together throughout the story. Their rivalry is also shown, with Ridley Scott stating vanity fair that he imagined the two as “property damaged from birth.” Quinn was reportedly inspired by Philip Seymour Hoffman in Mission: Impossible III and Gary Oldman of The fifth element for the interpretation of his character so as not to replicate Joaquin Phoenix’s performance as Commodus in the first film.
2 caracalla
Played by Fred Hechinger
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As mentioned, Caracalla’s role in royal Roman history was one of rivalry and deceit. Caracalla initially attempted to divide the Roman Empire into two halves, one under his role and one under that of his brother. However, their mother vetoed the idea because she still had too much political influence over her children. Caracalla eventually orchestrated the murder of his brother and subsequently ordered a damnatio memoriae. This results in the condemnation of memory, resulting in the banning of Geta’s name, the removal of statues, the fusion of coins with his image, and the minting of records of him.
Caracalla then oversaw the massacre of some 20,000 people. These victims were mostly those loyal to Geta, as well as those who did not follow the new rules outlined by Caracalla. Caracalla subsequently ruled as sole Roman emperor until his death in 217. Fred Hechinger plays Caracalla in Gladiator II and also spoke with Scott about how to differentiate his character from Phoenix’s Commodus.
1 Macrinus
Played by Denzel Washington
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The last main character of Gladiator II The one who is based on a real historical figure is Macrino. Macrino is played by Denzel Washington in Gladiator II and is the orchestrator of the film’s story. Macrinus is someone who has great political influence over the co-emperors Geta and Caracalla. In the movie, he is someone who wants the throne of Rome and will do whatever it takes to get it, including manipulating Lucius. Macrinus owns a stable of gladiators and acts as a mentor to Lucius.
From the beginning, Macrinus makes it clear that he intends to use Lucius as an instrument. Macrinus can get closer to the emperors and use Lucius to influence the political landscape of Rome from the gladiatorial arena, just as Maximus did in the first film. As such, Macrino is a pseudoantagonist of Gladiator II due to his treatment of Lucius and his clinging to power, which is emblematic of the many villains of the series. Gladiator franchise.
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In real history, Macrinus was Caracalla’s successor as Emperor of Rome. The idea that Macrinus was close to the co-emperors comes from history, with the former being one of Caracalla’s main advisors as prefect of the Praetorian Guard. Finally, Macrinus seized power by orchestrating the assassination of Caracalla. Macrinus hired a soldier for Caracalla’s personal guard, who stabbed and killed the Emperor, leaving a power vacuum for about three days.
Finally, Macrinus declared himself emperor and had the support of the Roman army. Since Macrinus and the army were far from Rome, the Senate could not intervene even if it wanted to. Curiously, Macrinus never returned to Rome during his reign as Emperor, to avoid intervention by the Senate. Finally, Macrinus was killed as memory curse was enacted against him, a symbol of his unpopularity as ruler of Rome, as Gladiator II stands out through his role as a villain.
Gladiator II
Gladiator 2 is the sequel to Ridley Scott’s award-winning 2000 film Gladiator. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal starring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villainous Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
Director Ridley Scott Release Date November 22, 2024 Writers David Scarpa, Peter Craig, David Franzoni Cast Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Derek Jacobi, May Calamawy, Peter Mensah, Matt Lucas , Alexander Karim, Tim McInnerny, Lee Charles, Chidi Ajufo, Alfie Tempest, Riana Duce, Chi Lewis Parry, Paul Candelent, Hadrian Howard, Alexander Simkin, Mikhail Basmadjian, Matthew Charlery-Smith, Maxime Durand, Lior Raz Expand