As a historian with a particular penchant for the tumultuous era of Ancient Rome, I must say that “Gladiator 2” is an entertaining spectacle, albeit one that takes some liberties with historical facts. The character development and action sequences are undeniably captivating, but as someone who has delved deep into the annals of history, I can’t help but appreciate the rich tapestry of real-life figures that have been woven into this cinematic masterpiece.
Prior to the premiere of Gladiator II, there were doubts about whether the sequel could match the quality of the original. Given Ridley Scott’s history of inconsistency, and his latest historical film Napoleon failing to meet expectations among fans of the Emperor, many wondered if Scott had lost his touch. However, he has proven that he still possesses the skill. Both critics and audiences have generally commended the sequel, though it remains unclear whether the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will award it with Oscars as they did with the first film.
As a film enthusiast, I find that the upcoming Gladiator sequel mirrors its predecessor in showcasing an array of both genuine and fictional characters. This is no surprise coming from Scott, who consistently strives to create authentic blockbusters rather than replicate documentaries. Even when depicting historical figures, their stories may not strictly adhere to the original characters. However, this isn’t always a drawback, as some of the real individuals from Ancient Rome had lives that were less captivating. Instead, the movie provides them with more compelling story arcs and amplifies their personalities, offering an improved portrayal of these historical figures.
Warning: This article contains serious spoilers for Gladiator II, now playing in theaters.
5 Lucilla
In the sequel to “Gladiator,” Connie Nielson once again plays Emperor Marcus Aurelius’s daughter Lucilla. After the demise of her partner Maximus (Russell Crowe) in the initial film, she enters into marriage with General Acacius (Pedro Pascal). As the story unfolds, she discovers that Lucius (Paul Mescal), a gladiator, is her long-forgotten son.
The Screen Lucilla Lives Longer Than the Real One, but Suffers Pretty Much the Same Fate
In the narrative, I portray a character, not historically Lucilla herself, but one who bears her name in the storyline. This fictional Lucilla, in her middle age, found love again posthumously with my character, Maximus, only to lose him prematurely. Her resilience and longing for vengeance against her brother Commodus, who orchestrated her execution at 33, form a profound emotional bond that shapes our journey in the film’s latter parts, creating a captivating mother-son dynamic.
In much the same way, the on-screen character of Lucilla shares the unfortunate end that her historical counterpart met with. Both are captured and executed (by Macrinus in the Colosseum) following their treasonous plot with Acacius to dethrone the two emperors. Contrasting the two, it is worth noting that the true Lucilla held power as she was wedded to Emperor Lucius Verus. In comparison, Ridley Scott’s adaptation only sees her ascending as high as becoming a general’s wife.
4 Jugurtha
Lovers of TV series set in Ancient Rome will undoubtedly rejoice at the sight of Peter Mensah in “Gladiator II”. Renowned for portraying the gladiator trainer Oenomaus in “Spartacus”, he makes a brief appearance in Ridley Scott’s film as Jugurtha, a Numidian chieftain who trained Lucius following his exile from Rome. After General Acacius’ Roman army invades Numidia, Jugurtha and Lucius are captured and compelled to fight as gladiators. However, in the arena, Jugurtha refuses to fight against dangerous monkeys, leading to his untimely demise.
The Best Parts of Jugurtha’s Story Get Trimmed
History enthusiasts might find it questionable how Jugurtha is depicted in the movie, given his ruthless nature in actual history. In the film, however, he appears more as an unfortunate character. He exhibits kindness by tutoring a refugee (Lucius), but ultimately falls victim to capture and is compelled to fight for Rome’s amusement.
The real Jugurtha wasn’t so nice. He was selfish, so much so that he murdered his two adoptive brothers, Hiempsal and Adherbal, before taking control of Numdidia. His decision to kill Adherbal angered Rome because the man was seen as the best person to rule over the territory. Rome thus invaded, resulting in the lengthy Jugurthine War.
In line with the movie’s narrative, I wasn’t killed by monkeys as portrayed, but Jugurtha, known for his relentless spirit, was indeed captured. The significance of this capture led to a grand procession through Rome, before he was imprisoned in Tullianum. It was there that he met his end, not through the unconventional means shown on screen, but by strangulation. I must give credit to Scott for the creative touch; “murder by monkey” certainly adds a more captivating flair. Indeed, such a spectacle would keep us all entertained.
3 Emperors Geta and Caracalla
The following sequel presents us with Emperor Geta and his twin brother Caracalla, who are often found to be unskilled, dim-witted, and dislikable. This makes them easy targets for manipulation. Eventually, a conflict arises between these brothers, leading Caracalla to betray Geta and have him assassinated, with Macrinus providing assistance in the act.
Geta’s Death Was More Dramatic in Real Life
The movie follows real-life events fairly closely when it comes to the two rulers, who, though not identical in age (Caracalla was older), were both sons of Emperor Septimius Severus. He aspired for them to rule together; however, they struggled to govern Rome concurrently, eventually leading to the assassination of Geta.
In the film, the decision to portray Macrinus as the one who killed Geta is historically inaccurate, but it serves a purpose: it emphasizes the cunning and villainous nature of the Denzel Washington character. Historically, Geta was actually killed by centurions when his relationship with Caracalla had deteriorated to the point that they couldn’t even be in the same room together. To carry out the assassination, Caracalla deceived their mother into arranging a peace meeting between him and his brother, thereby disarming Geta of his bodyguards. He was then killed in the presence of his mother.
2 Lucius Verus II
In the sequel to “Gladiator,” Paul Mescal portrays Lucius, replacing Spencer Treat Clark from the original film. Initially, Lucius’ mother, Lucilla, sends him far from Rome for safety. He eventually establishes himself in Numidia and marries; however, his tranquil life is shattered when Roman troops under General Marcus Acacius launch an invasion. Taken prisoner, he is compelled to fight as a gladiator, but fortune begins to favor him.
Toying with the Lineage
In actuality, the historical figure Lucius Verus II was the son of Lucilla and Emperor Lucius Verus, not the fictional character Maximus, as portrayed in the movie. The depiction of Lucius in Mescal’s interpretation has undergone an age enhancement. Unfortunately, contrary to the film’s narrative, Lucius Verus II, along with his siblings and Emperor Lucius Verus, passed away at a young age. They never experienced exile or became gladiators.
Is the alteration beneficial then? Indeed. In its absence, we’d need to fashion a fresh character sans a well-established background. Alternatively, perhaps we could have seen Russell Crowe reprise his role in the original discarded narrative focusing on the exploration of the afterlife.
1 Macrinus
In ancient Rome, a gladiator like Macrinus (Denzel Washington), portrayed in the movie “Gladiator II”, could gain his freedom and even create his own fighting school, or Ludus. At first, Macrinus acquires the protagonist, Lucius, and molds him into one of his elite fighters. Moreover, he nurtures ambitions to rule as Emperor and is prepared to go to great lengths to achieve this goal. However, Macrinus deceitfully convinces Caracalla to assassinate Geta, but Lucius thwarts his plans before Macrinus can seize the throne for himself.
Big Dreams, Bad Moves
In a parallel universe, I might have been Macrinus, though my dreams never materialized into an imperial reign. Regardless, I carried the essence and story of that figure. Born in what is now Cherchell, Algeria, to a Berber family, I rose through the ranks to become the trusted advisor of Emperor Caracalla. Yet, ambition clouded my judgment, leading me to plot against him and take his life in a ruthless power grab. This brutal ascension left me with little respect from the senators, and my preference for appointing minorities to high positions only added fuel to their disdain.
Macrinus’ biggest mistake was decreasing the pay of new army recruits. The move caused his popularity to decline, and he was later captured while trying to flee and murdered. His head was then sent to his successor, Elagabalus. While the end of his journey makes for intriguing reading, it is less fascinating compared to what we see in the movie, where he is subjected to the film’s most iconic death. As he is trying to flee, he is pursued by Lucius, who cuts off his hand before delivering the killer blow.
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2024-11-26 01:32