A Guide to the Returning and Real-Life Gladiator II Characters You Need to Know
24 YEARS HAVE handed since Ridley Scott’s Gladiator came out and changed the film world for the following two a protracted time—and counting. The action-packed blockbuster now now not easiest made the historic account cold again (animated movies admire Troy, Alexander, and even plenty of a wonderful deal of Scott-directed movies as effectively in the following years), nonetheless won plenty of Oscars, including Simplest Represent for the film itself and Simplest Actor for big title Russell Crowe, who used to be mercurial enshrined as one of the most film industry’s most cherished and bankable leading men.
Now, in 2024, Scott is returning to the enviornment of 1 of his most notorious movies, releasing Gladiator II with an (nearly) entirely modern solid. Crowe’s dauntless Maximus and Joaquin Phoenix’s sadistic Commodus are long gone, their impression and presence as a change looming over a account that’s led by Paul Mescal’s Lucius—a personality we closing noticed in the unique film as an harmless child.
Gladiator II is a sequel, nonetheless in some ways is accessible in the mildew of loads of the “legacy sequels” that we seek for this present day; stuff admire Big title Wars: The Power Awakens tries to notify its own account while collected that includes all forms of references and callbacks to the unique movies that followers protect so crucial. Fully a couple characters from the unique Gladiator return, nonetheless that film’s presence is felt in every single place Gladiator II.
As you put together for Scott’s return to the Roman Colosseum, you’re doubtlessly wondering how worthy of Gladiator II calls lend a hand to the unique Gladiator, and additionally which—if any—of the film’s characters are primarily based on figures from valid-existence (attributable to, don’t neglect, Marcus Aureleius, Commodus, and Lucilla are all primarily based on staunch folks from Roman history, and figured prominently into the unique Gladiator).
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Which Gladiator II characters are getting back from the unique Gladiator?
Lucius (Paul Mescal)
After figuring into the unique Gladiator film as a baby (played by Unbreakable broad title Spencer Treat Clark), Lucius becomes the protagonist of the second film (and now played by ascending broad title Paul Mescal) in Gladiator II. His mother is Lucilla, and while his father’s identification did now now not pick into the unique Gladiator, the GQ hide account on Mescal confirms that his father is printed to be Russell Crowe’s Maximus in the second film.
Lucilla (Connie Nielsen)
Lucilla, who used to be the daughter of Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), the sister of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), and the mum of Lucius in the unique Gladiator, returns for Gladiator II.
Senator Gracchus (Sir Derek Jacobi)
The finest a wonderful deal of personality to effectively return from Gladiator in Gladiator II is Senator Gracchus, who used to be a key ally to Maximus and Lucilla against Commodus in the unique film. It be intelligent that half of Maximus’s motivation in the first film used to be making particular Marcus Aurelius’s desire of turning Rome lend a hand into a republic led by a senate would reach staunch, and it seemingly will on the stop of the film—easiest for Gladiator II to center once extra on Rome as dominated by a pair of sadistic emperors.
Are any Gladiator II characters primarily based on valid folks?
Lucilla (Connie Nielsen)
Lucilla, who used to be featured in Gladiator, is once extra primarily based on the valid Roman Empire pick Lucilla. If truth be told, she didn’t are residing past her early 30s, when her brother, Commodus, ordered her loss of life following a failed coup and assassination strive. Obviously, Gladiator has strayed from this.
Macrinus (Denzel Washington)
Denzel Washington brings all of his one-of-a-model charisma and craft to Gladiator II to play Macrinus, written here as a aged slave-turned-slave proprietor with some predominant, dauntless plans. He’s a key ally of Lucius, and has plots to take the present empire down one share at a time. He’s primarily based on the valid Roman Empire pick additionally named Macrinus.
Emperor Geta (Joseph Quinn)
Joseph Quinn is without inquire one of the most industry’s most fun younger actors, and here he performs the villainous co-Emperor Geta, who’s primarily based on a valid pick from Roman history named Geta. After Emperor Septimius Severus died, he supposed for his sons—Geta and Caracalla—to rule together. But that didn’t relatively bound per thought.
Emperor Caracalla (Fred Hechinger)
Fred Hechinger, who many bear likely viewed in season 1 of The White Lotus, performs the a wonderful deal of co-Emperor, Caracalla. Caracalla is additionally primarily based the valid pick named Caracalla, and used to be anointed as co-Emperor (on the side of Geta) after their father, Septimus Severus, died. It did now now not bound effectively from there.
